The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has exempted Small Scale Industries (SSIs) which send their effluents to Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP) from installation of the online monitoring system in their units. Now, 24X7 online monitoring system has to be installed at inlets and outlets of CETPs and industries under 17 categories of highly polluting industries, common hazardous waste incinerators and biomedical waste incinerators.
CPCB has given mandate to the polluting industries to install online monitoring devices at effluents discharge points in industrial units. Out of 2800 industries to which directions were issued, nearly 920 industries have installed 24x7 monitoring devices and another 400 units have moved to Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD). The CPCB has started receiving online data of status of compliance with respect to effluents.
New industrial units in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, fertilizer, textile and many other sectors have been mandated to achieve ZLD from commissioning along with installation of online monitoring device. The existing units in these sectors are required to switch over to ZLD in a time bound manner. CPCB has also issued notices for closure of some non-complying units and once they comply with the direction of CPCB for online monitoring system, they will be allowed to operate again.
In recent meeting conducted by the CPCB with various industrial associations across sectors to review the status of compliance to CPCB's direction on implementation of online monitoring system, Bulk Drug Manufacturers' Association (India)-BDMA(I) and Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association (IDMA) has requested CPCB not to insist on online monitoring device for those industries connected with CETP or already moved to ZLD. Installation of such devices is cost prohibitive and this will increase cost of product. The cost of online monitoring system is Rs. 40 lakh approximately which is not affordable for SSI units and suggested for exemption of small scale industries for installation.
On the request of various associations the CPCB has extend the deadline for installing the online monitoring system till September, 2015. CPCB cleared that online monitoring system is an important initiative of government of India. MoEF&CC as well as CPCB are committed for its implementation. The directions of CPCB issued to SPCBs on 5.2.2014 for 17 categories of industries, common bio-medical waste treatment facilities and common hazardous waste treatment and disposal facilities including CEPT has to be complied.