“E-waste is an upcoming concern”
Sanjay Khandare, IAS, Member Secretary, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, highlights some of the keyenvironmental hazards and how the Board is dealing with them
Sanjay Khandare, IAS, Member Secretary, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, highlights some of the keyenvironmental hazards and how the Board is dealing with them
India is experiencing tremendous growth in urban areas. More than 44% of the population is staying in the urban areas in the state of Maharashtra. This increased urbanization associated with growing economy has posed a significance stress on the environment. The major urban environmental concerns, like urban air pollution, noise pollution, municipal solid waste management, sanitation and associated adverse health impacts. This increased urbanization with large population density can further intensify these concerns, unless we take urgent effective steps like improvement in the sanitation, air quality improvement initiatives and solid waste management.
The urban areas generally face problems of air pollution. In Maharashtra, MPCB is conducting regular air monitoring and the ‘dust particles’ are found to be the concerned pollutant. There are several contributors for these dust particles like road dust suspension, industries, solid waste burning etc. The automobiles also contribute significantly the dust in urban areas and detailed study is underway to assess the contribution of various sources. The air quality initiatives in urban areas can include encouragement of public transport, road dust resuspension control, proper solid waste management by stopping burning of solid waste, etc. MPCB also feels that the air quality data in urban areas should be available for public information which can lead to demand for cleaner air. MPCB has developed a network of air quality monitoring in the state and the entire air quality data is available on the website www.mpcb.gov.in in a dynamic manner.
Electronic waste is an upcoming concern in urban areas. Board has conducted a detailed study and it is estimated that the e-waste generation in Mumbai and Pune would be significantly high by year 2015.
This high level of inventorization has generated interest of private entrepreneurs and one facility of physical dismantling of e-waste is in operation in Mumbai in private sector. MPCB is further carrying out Techno-Economic feasibility study for integrated e-waste management facility. MPCB has also taken a policy decision to provide limited financial assistance to integrated e-waste management facility. We hope more facilities will come up in Public-Private partnership mode.
With the growing urban and industrial water demands, the limited natural water resources are facing pressure. MPCB is conducting water quality monitoring at 250 locations at major water resources in the State. This data is available to public and other organization through MPCB website. MPCB has also taken initiatives for provision of Common Effluent Treatment Plants, upgradation of existing CETPs, encouraging Urban Bodies to provide sewage treatment plants, encouraging industries to reuse/recycle the treated wastewater. All these steps are helpful in protecting the natural drinking water sources.
MPCB has taken several initiatives including collection and dissemination of environmental quality data, sectoral approach for industrial pollution control, information based compliance, increased dessimination of information and awareness, etc. This will require increased monitoring and surveillance activities of natural resources, urban local bodies and industries necessitating additional man power. MPCB has initiated large scale computerization and also adopted fast track consent management system to reduce the paper work and also efficiency and transparency operation. Considering the growing environmental concerns, Board has undertaken detailed study for capacity building for MPCB through CRISIL. Accordingly Board has submitted a proposal for additional manpower to State Government, which is under active consideration.