CENTRAL
POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD - ENVIRONMENT
News:
CPCB report to NGT shows
80 pc environmental funds remain unutilised
What's
in the news?
●
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
has spent only 20 percent of the environment protection charge and
environmental compensation collected so far on mitigating air pollution in
Delhi-NCR and protecting the environment.
Central
Pollution Control Board (CPCB):
●
It is a statutory organisation constituted in September 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
Act, 1974.
●
CPCB was also entrusted with the powers
and functions under the Air (Prevention
and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
●
It provides technical services to the
Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MOEFCC) of the provisions
of the Environment (Protection) Act,
1986, and advises the Central Government on any matter concerning the
prevention and control of water and air pollution and the improvement of the
quality of air.
Principal
Functions of the CPCB:
●
To promote the cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas of the States
by prevention, control, and abatement of water pollution
●
To improve
the quality of air and to prevent, control or abate air pollution in the
country.
Standardization
activity of CPCB:
●
CPCB lays down standards for streams or
wells in consultation with the State
Governments, and also lays down standards for the quality of air.
●
CPCB also prepares manuals, codes, and
guidelines relating to the treatment and disposal of sewage and trade
effluents, as well as for stack gas cleaning devices, stacks, and ducts.
●
In general, the following nine categories of standards are developed
by CPCB such as
○
National Ambient Air Quality
○
Water Quality Criteria from different
sources
○
Standards for Emission or Discharge of
Environmental Pollutants from various Industries (Issued under Environment
Protection Rules, 1986)
○
Standards for Treatment and Disposal of
Bio-Medical waste by Incineration
○
Guidelines for the disposal of Common
Hazardous Wastes by Incineration
○
Emission norms for vehicles
○
Auto fuel quality
○
Emission standard, Noise limits for Diesel
Engines
○
Emission & Noise Limit of LPG &
CNG Generator Sets
●
Apart from the above, under the Comprehensive Industry Document Series
(COINDS), CPCB also formulates the Minimal
National Standards (MINAS) specific for various categories of industries
with regards to their effluent discharge (water pollutants), emissions (air
pollutants), noise levels, and solid waste. These standards are required to be
adopted by State Governments as minimal standards.