ACHIEVEMENT OF TRIPURA STATE POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD DURING LAST FOUR YEARS

INTRODUCTION

The Tripura State Pollution Control Board was constituted by the Government of Tripura in the year 1988 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution ) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution ) Act, 1981. Accordingly rules namely the Tripura State Pollution Control Board ( Water Pollution Control ) Rules, 1989 and the Tripura State Pollution Control Board ( Air Pollution Control Board) Rules, 1989 have been framed under both the Acts. The basic objectives of the Board are :

To plan and secure comprehensive programme on Pollution Control ;

To survey, collect and compile data base for the State's water, air, environment an to advise the State Government in classifying areas as Water and Air Pollution Control Areas.

To lay down, modify and annual standards in consultation with the Central Pollution Control Board ; and

To perform other actions as laid down in the Acts.

With the growing public awareness and increased judicial interventions as evinced through a number of Public Interest Litigations (PIL), the State Pollution Control Boards are expected to deal in almost all aspects of Pollution.In recent years, increasing responsibilities have been assigned to the Pollution Control Boards for enforcement of various statutes which include the following :

The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution ) Act, 1974

The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution ) Cess Act,1977

The Air(Prevention and Control of Pollution ) Act, 1981

Environment (Protection) Act,1986 etc.etc.

The Pollution Control Boards are also called upon to play their role in vehicular emission control through the Transport Department, Chemicals Safety through the Factories Inspectorate and Municipal Waste Management through the Civic Authorities.

In addition, the Pollution Control Boards are also expected to examine the EIA reports for sitting of an industry and to monitor compliance of environmental conditions in respect of the project cleared by the State Govt./Govt.of India.

Consent Management

For setting up of any industry, unit or process in the State prior consent from the Tripura State Pollution Control Board is required to be obtained.

In our State there are approximately 2422 units in existence as per the survey conducted by the Tripura State Pollution Control Board. We have issued 1364 nos.of Consent to Establish Certificate and 907 nos. of Consent were renewed as on 01.02.2002.

We are also receiving public complaint on environmental issues. In the present practice, we used to inspect the site of complaint, have discussion with the complainants and the unit against whom the complaints have been lodged and appropriate action taken on merit. During the last four years we have received 201 nos. of complaints out of which 157 nos. of complaints were attended to.

Environmental Planning

Tripura State Pollution Control Board, in collaboration with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and German Technical Co-operation (GTZ) has successfully completed the Zoning Atlas for Siting of Industries for the entire Sate under the World Bank funded Environment Management Capacity Building project and become the State in the country which has completed this project for the whole State.As a follow up of the Zoning Atlas project, Tripura State Pollution Control Board has presently finalized the drafts of the following projects

Industrial Estate Planning Studies for Bodhjongnagar

Regional Planning for the entire State and undertaken the project -Environment Management Plan for Agartala city.

Based on the performance and progress in the Zoning Atlas project of all State Pollution Control Boards and Executing Agencies of the country, the Ministry of Environment & Forests and Central Pollution Control Board have created the Center for Excellence for Spatial Environmental Planning in only four selected States -- Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. We in the Tripura State Pollution Control Board hope that this Center for Excellence will fulfill not only the requirements of Tripura but also the other North Eastern States. For this, MoEF and CPCB will provide full infrastructure and manpower support.

Water Pollution

The Ground Water and Surface Water potential of Tripura is good. Rainfall is farily high in the State. Hilly terrain and valley are the main recharge areas. Ground Water Quality monitoring was carried out in 25 monitoring stations and Surface Water monitoring was carried in stations through out the State during the year 2001-02. By and large the quality of water is good for agriculture, industrial and domestic uses.

Air Pollution

The ambient air quality throughout the State is good. In some places of Agartala and in some Districts and Sub Division Headquarters, the air quality is medium due to high density of population and Vehicular Smoke Emission.

Air quality monitoring was carried out throughout the State in all Sub Division Headquarters for SPM, Sox and Knox during 2001-02. The level of SPM, CO and lead was monitored in some selected stations in and around Agartala city. In few places of Agartala city quality of air is low. In Agartala at Motorstand and Battala RPM level is also above the standards. Medium and low air quality is attributed mainly due to vehicular smoke emission and dust.

Noise Pollution

The Tripura State Pollution Control Board carried out a noise level survey through out the State for 41 stations. It is observed that the noise level of the residential areas are more than the prescribed standard. During the Deepabali days for last four years we have made the noise level survey in an around Agartala city.We have also carried out a noise level survey during the Kirttan at Maharajganj Bazar, Agartala. The Tripura State Pollution Control Board also prepared a Noise Bill incorporating all provisions for combating noise pollution and sent it to the Govt. of Tripura for approval.

Pollution from Plastic

The Tripura State Pollution Control Board has issued a direction banning Plastic Carry Bags less than the thickness of 20 micron through out the State of Tripura. Necessary advertisement and awareness programmes were also organized. The response is optimistic.

Awareness

It has been our constant endeavor to generate Mass Awareness through interaction with various Local Bodies, NGOs, Voluntary Organizations, Educational Institutions in order to secure public involvement in controlling industrial and other type of pollution and preserving the ecological balance.

Every year,Tripura State Pollution Control Board is observing World Environment Day in a befitting manner involving NGOs, Voluntary Organizations, Educational Institutions, Nagar Panchayats, Blocks, Panchayat Samities etc.With limited resource, these organization have played and are playing effective role for abatement of pollution and for conservation of environment in the State.

From 1996-97 Ministry of Environment has appointed Tripura State Pollution Control Board as Regional Resource Agency, for conducting and monitoring National Environment Awareness Programme in the State thorough different NGOs, Voluntary Organizations, Educational Institutions, Nagar Panchayats, Blocks, Panchayat Samities etc. For last five years NEAC programme is very successful in the State so far the environmental awareness is concerned. Seeing the performance, for generating awareness  MoEF has sanctioned an amount of Rs.5,09,000/- this year under NEAC for organizing programmes through 82 NGOs/Educational Institutions.

The Govt. of Tripura declared the Tripura State Pollution Control Board as Nodal Agency for setting up Eco Clubs in 400 schools covering all the four districts under National Green Corps programme of the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India . Training of the Incharge Teachers were also organized. The programme has already started.

Projects

Hazardous Wastes Management

For implementation of Hazardous Wastes (Management & Handling ) Rules, 1989 Tripura State Pollution Control Board in collaboration with National Productivity Council has completed a project ‘Development of Hazardous Wastes Management – Strategy and Action Plan including rapid environmental Impact Assessment studies and Identification of Disposal Sites’.

State of Environment Report

The Tripura State Pollution Control Board has completed the project - State of Environment Report in Tripura through the Center for Environemnt & Development, Kolkata. The report would be published soon.

Management of Bio-Medical Wastes

Joint meetings with CPCB, TSPCB, Local Authorities, UDD, Health Department, Nursing Homes have already been organized. The Government of Tripura has already declared Member Secretary, TSPCB as the Prescribed Authority and has constituted an Advisory Committee in the State under Bio-Medical Wastes Rule. For effective implementation of the Rules, TSPCB is closely interacting with AMC, Nursing Homes and Health Department. An Action Plan for inventorisation of hospitals wastes and for setting up of facilities for proper disposal of bio-medical waste is worked out. A workshop involving Doctors, Nurses etc. would be organized soon for effective implementation of the Bio Medical (Management & Handling ) Rules, 1998.

Laboratory

The laboratory of TSPCB is nearing completion . We have already procured some essential equipment/instruments for the analysis of water, air, noise etc. Recently, Govt. of India has sanctioned some more funds for procurement of other instruments. Once we receive the manpower, it is expected that you would make the laboratory fully functional.  With the present manpower we are collecting some water samples and analyzing them regularly.