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   Tenth Plan

The X Plan schemes are:

   1. Infrastructure Augmentation
       a) Zonal Offices
       b) District Offices
       c) R & D Division
       d) Central Laboratory
       e) Head Office

   2. Environmental Quality Monitoring
       a) River monitoring and classification
       b) Backwater Monitoring
       c) Coastal Monitoring
       d) Ground Water Contamination Studies
       e) Air Quality monitoring
       f) Source Specific Impact Monitoring

   3.  Hazard Management

   4.  Information Technology

   5.  Public Awareness and Assistance

   6.  Noise Profiling

   7.  Incentives for Pollution Control

   8.  Land and Building

   9.  Common Facilities for Waste Management

   10. Pollution Potential Studies

   11. Study of Colour Removal Techniques

   12. Heavy metal accumulation in Chithrapuzha

   13. Pamba River Action Plan

   14. Biomedical and Municipal Waste Management



INTRODUCTION

Reduction of forest cover, changes in weather pattern, thinning of polar ice and sea level rise are all being attributed to global warming which, in turn, is caused by man's efforts to progress. Sustainable development, in essence, is achieving progress without having to suffer environmental destruction. Therefore the survival of mankind now depends on how soon he can stop further degradation and reverse the damages already caused.

Progress of mankind is impossible without Industrialisation. But the very existence of mankind is impossible in an environment vitiated by unchecked industrialisation. Kerala is industrially backward and is dependent on others for almost all its day-to-day needs. This predicament must change. Planned industrialisation has to take place rapidly. In the midst, the Kerala State Pollution Control Board has the difficult task of balancing environmental sustainability and industrial progress. The X Plan is formulated to adequately strengthen the Board to perform this difficult task.

The list of offices of the Board is as given here: 1. Head Office at Thiruvananthapuram; 2. Regional Offices at
Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode; 3. District Offices at Kollam, Thrissur, Pathanamthitta, Palakkad, Alappuzha, Malappuram, Kottayam and Kannur;
4. Site Offices at Udyogamandal and Ambalamugal; and 5. Central laboratory at Ernakulam.

Staff strength of the Board is 269 which consists of 74 technical, 61 scientific and 134 administrative staff. During the last few years the Board was entrusted with the implementation of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, Environment Impact Assessment and Public Hearing Notifications, the Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, Recycled Plastic Manufacture and Usage Rules, the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules and the Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules. The Government did not provide the infrastructure necessary to carry out these additional duties. The statutes are therefore being implemented by reallocating the Board's existing meagre resources. Additional infrastructure is required to administer the new statutes and to further decentralise its activities.

The schemes in the X Plan are intended to ensure that
1. All the over 4000 medical institutions are brought under the Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules and thereby ensure the safe handling and disposal of all biomedical wastes generated in the state.

2. All the local bodies in the state obtain authorisation from the Board under the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules and provide adequate mechanisms for proper collection and disposal of solid wastes.

3. All manufacturers of plastic items covered by the Recycled Plastic (Manufacture and Usage) Rules are brought under the law and made to strictly abide by the Rules.

4. Administration of the Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules is decentralised, strengthened and streamlined.

5. Activities such as pollution control (water, air and noise), awareness building, complaint redressal and technical assistance for pollution control are more effective.
1. Infrastructure Augmentation

a. Zonal Offices: Zonal Offices will be set up at Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode during the Plan period. Implementation of The Biomedical Waste Rules in hospitals with beds upto 500, the implementation of Municipal Solid Wastes Rules in all municipalities and also the Recycled Plastic Manufacture and Usage Rules will be from the Zonal Offices. First issue and renewal of consent to operate medium scale industries under Water Act and Air Act will be from Zonal Offices. Chief Environmental Engineers will head the Zonal Offices. The Zonal Offices will also supervise activities of the District Offices in their respective region.

b. District Offices: The Board is in the process of decentralising its activities by setting up offices at the district level. Board proposes to complete decentralisation by setting up District Offices at Kasaragod, Idukki and Wayanad. All the District Offices will be strengthened to enable them to implement the new statutes and to carry out the additional responsibilities. Laboratories, headed by an Assistant Environmental Scientist, will be established at all District Offices. First issue and renewal of consent to operate small scale units will be issued from these offices. They will also carry out regular inspections to all industries within the district and ensure compliance to all statutes being administered by the Board.

c. R & D Division: Research and Development Division will be strengthened to carry out all projects and R & D activities undertaken by the Board. The mobile laboratories of the Board will be attached to this division. All industry specific impact studies and the external aided projects will be co-ordinated/carried out from this division.

d. Central Laboratory: Central Laboratory at Ernakulam will be made fully capable of catering to the additional duties entrusted through the new statutes. All analytical work of R&D wing will be carried out from this lab

e. Head Office: Head Office of the Board will be strengthened and streamlined to adequately monitor activities of the subordinate offices and to implement the additional duties entrusted to the Board.

2. Environmental Quality Monitoring
a) River Monitoring And Classification: Qualitative and quantitative data of all the major rivers in the State will be collected from different locations in the river. These data along with environment related data such as land use, water abstraction etc. of these water sheds will be used to classify the rivers. Project Division will associate with the respective District Office and conduct the study.
b) Backwater Monitoring And Classification: Kerala has many back waters and a few fresh water lakes/reservoirs. These water bodies will be regularly monitored to classify them according to best designated usage. The study is formulated with a further view to study the surrounding land use and water use patterns and evolve locally acceptable protection policy. Project Division will associate with the respective District Offices and conduct the study.

 

X PLAN
c) Coastal Monitoring: There is inadequacy of data on the amount and fate of pollutants reaching the Kerala coast. Coastal monitoring programme is formulated with this objective and will monitor pollutants at the mouths of the major rivers of Kerala. Project Division will associate with the respective District Offices in the conduct of this study.
d) Ground Water Contamination Studies: The close proximity of industries to settlements and the very high density of population leads to contamination of ground water. The study proposes to concentrate on ground water quality in areas susceptible to industrial pollution. Such areas will be identified and monitored to predict and prevent possible contamination. Project Division will associate with the respective District Offices and conduct the study.
e) Ambient Air Quality Assessment: Qualitative data of ambient air assessed by the District offices will be analysed and periodical reports prepared on the state of the air environment. New monitoring stations will be set up after assessing requirement. The network will be strengthened and equipped to cover all the districts and all the four zones.
f) Source Specific Impact Monitoring: Special studies on pollution from specific sources will be undertaken to identify suitable treatment and disposal alternatives. Episodic pollution involving industries will be studied and remedial measures identified. R & D Division with the respective District Offices will conduct the studies.

3. Hazard Management

Decentralisation of hazardous wastes management will be completed. This will facilitate timely intervention from the Board's local Offices to execute emergency action arising from handling/disposal of hazardous wastes. The hazardous waste management wing at the Head Office will issue authorisations under the Rules and maintain the Regional Register of Potentially Toxic chemicals (RRPTC).

4. Information Technology

The activities of the Board will be computerised to speed up disposal of applications. Proprietary application software will be developed through reputed consultants to implement office automation. All the offices of the Board will be networked to enable online data management. Additional computer hardware as identified by the consultant will be installed. The WEB Site of the Board will be upgraded to facilitate online transactions through the Net.

5. Public Awareness and Assistance

Pollution Awareness and Assistance Centre at the Head Office will ensure speedy redressal of grievances and build purposeful environmental consciousness among the public. The Centre will make systematic effort to communicate the Board's targets and achievements through different media. A mobile unit with audio-visual facilities will be acquired for the above purposes.

6. Noise Profiling
Board is enforcing standards for noise emission from industrial sources. For this purpose the Board has to monitor source and ambient noise levels. The ambient noise profile around selected high activity areas will be prepared and measures to be implemented to achieve allowable noise levels will be suggested. The R & D Division will implement the scheme.

7. Incentives for Pollution Control

The annual awards, instituted in 1989-90, for installing and operating the best pollution control facilities will be made more attractive by enhancing the Prize Money. These awards have helped to inculcate healthy competitiveness amongst the industries to control pollution and to protect the environment.


8. Land and Building

Regional Office at Ernakulam is the only office of the Board functioning from our own premises. Construction of building for Palakkad office has commenced. Land is to be acquired and office constructed, during this Plan period, for the Head Office and the remaining offices.

9. Common Facilities for Waste Management

The Central Government subsidises 25% of the installation cost of common effluent treatment plants (CETP) for effluents from clusters of industries, provided the State Government makes a matching contribution. Attempts will be made to implement the scheme in the State after removing the hesitation among the industries to join CETP.

10. Pollution Potential Studies

Study will be made to assess the pollution potential of industries in the state. Yardsticks will be developed to make the assessments and the study conducted with reference to the major polluting parameters. Studies to predict probable impacts will be carried out to prioritise pollution control activities. The R & D Division will implement the scheme.

11. Study of Colour Removal Techniques

Board has completed a laboratory scale study of colour removal techniques. It is now required to confirm the observations through pilot scale study and through field trials. The study will be conducted under the R & D Division.

12. Heavy Metal Accumulation in Chithrapuzha
Chithrapuzha is the recipient of effluents from the major chemical industries located around Ambalamugal. Zinc, Copper, Vanadium, Chromium, Arsenic, Lead etc. have been detected, though within allowable limits, in the river water. The study will quantify accumulation of these or other heavy metals in the different stretches of Chithrapuzha with a view to identify sources. The study will be conducted by the Central Laboratory.

13. Pamba River Action Plan
National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD) was submitted proposal for the clean up of the ten major rivers of Kerala. The Central Government in the Ministry of Environment has agreed to part finance (70%) the Pamba Action Plan proposed by the Board. State Government will have to finance the balance 30% of the cost of implementation. The scheme envisages sewage treatment facilities at Sabarimala, Pamba and the major municipalities discharging sewage to the river. Garbage collection and disposal facilities will be set up in the river basin. All industrial sources discharging to the river will be identified and made to establish proper treatment and disposal facilities. The Board has conducted a Pre-feasibility study and submitted the report to the State and Central Governments for approval of implementation of the Action Plan.

14. Biomedical and Municipal Waste Management
The Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998 is being implemented in the State by the Board since 1999 and the Municipal Solid Wastes(Management and Handling) Rules since 2000. These additional duties are being executed by diverting existing staff. Under this scheme it is proposed to decentralise administration of these Rules by delegating authority to the Zonal and District Offices and by adequately strengthening the district level offices. All the hospitals and the local bodies in the state will be trained in the proper collection and disposal of solid wastes.