Annual Report 2008 - 2009 Gujarat Pollution Control Board i Preface The Gujarat Pollution Control Board - now also known as GPCB - was constituted by Government of Gujarat on 15th October, 1974 as per provision of the Water Act, 1974. GPCB continued its efforts towards environment related better pollution control and improved management. The Board continue to tackle several critical issues in the field of environment through its existing Regional Offices located at Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Vapi, Rajkot, Jamnagar, Godhra, Mehsana and Bhavnagar. During the year under report three new Regional Offices each at Bhuj-Kutch, Nadia-Kheda and Junagadh made functional from 20.11.2008, 12.12.2008 and 16.3.2009, respectively, The Government of Gujarat has launched a special programme called ‘Swarnim Gujarat’. Though basic functions of the Board is regulatory, it has also been organising various awareness programmes, from time to time, on pollution control with a view to minimize and prevent pollution. The Board continue to make joint efforts with government concerned offices, municipal corporations, municipalities, hospitals, villages and educational institutions, Industries Associations. These programmes would continue to supplement the awareness. It shall be an effective tool in controlling the environmental pollution. In the field of e-Governance programme of GPCB, vizly. XGN (eXtension Green Node) was launched by Shri Mangubhai Patel, Hon'ble Minister, Tribal Development, Forest & Environment on 5th June- the World Environment Day, 2008. XGN software programme facilitates all concerned to file their application online. Similar facility has been introduced to facilitate applicants applying for authorisation under the Bio-Medical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998, w.e.f. 15.2.2009. This shall enable all applicants seeking clearances under laws to file their applications through internet facilities. During the year under report, bottlenecks are being addressed in this regard. During the period under report Shri D. Rajgopalan, IAS, Chief Secretary to the Government of Gujarat who is also the Chairperson of the Task Force for implementation of the Air Action Plan reviewed the action taken and efforts made to arrive at successful results in reducing pollution in Ahmedabad city. As per report of the CPCB, Delhi, 85 cities in India monitored periodically, to record RSPM [Respirable suspended particulate matter] level, shows the ranking of Ahmedabad continuously improved from 4th in year 2001 to 13th in year 2005, 43rd in year 2006, and 66th in year 2008, position. EPCA (EPCA popularly known as ‘Bhurelal Committee’) complemented all the officials and noted that the progress made in the implementation of the Air Action Plan for Ahmedabad was very satisfactory. i Similarly the District level Task Force set up in workshop of District Collectors have also monitored, the implementation of Air Action Plan for the towns of Vapi, Surat, Ankleshwar, Vadodara and Rajkot, periodically. In case of Vadodara city, trend in air quality particularly respirable air pollutant has shown remarkable improvement. The noteworthy improvement is attributed due building infrastructures like over bridges and flyovers, widening roads, covering pavements, cleaner fuels, and more importantly awareness among people, joints efforts of public - private participation. During the year under report programmes, publication of four set of Manuals vizly. 1). Technical, 2).Scientific, 3). Legal and 4). Accounts & Administration helped in conducting departmental examinations as prescribed under the GPCB (Recruitment) Rules, 2007. This has paved way for elevating 119 Class I, II & 232 Class III employees to higher posts. This has further boot their morals, as scores of them were awaiting their dues past many years. It may be noted that all officers and most of the employees have passed their computer examination conducted by the conducted through State Government machinery. During the year under report, the Board continued to organise scores of awareness programmes including posters exhibitions, seminars in major towns and cities and addressed another area of environmental importance i.e. educating all concerned people including medical and para medical persons for effective implementation of Municipal solid wastes, Bio-medical Wastes, plastic wastes issues, noise pollutions, etc. The Board through its all the Regional Offices co-ordinated with the District Authorities and also participated in various District level programmes viz. District level mock drills, video conferences held by District administration, District Collectorates and Municipal Corporations, programmes of Vibrant Gujarat, Nirmal Gujarat, Consumer Protection Committee. The Lok Darbars / Gram Sabha meetings have also helped in also addressing the Gram Sabha concerned of the public at large. The Board continued with the system of holding review meetings for expediting clearance of the application including the Consolidated Consent and Authorization. The Vibrant Gujarat Cell continued its activities for speedy clearance of the 'Vibrant cases' from the Head Office. GPCB together with the Forest & Environment Department in Government of Gujarat and in co-ordination with other departments of State and Central Government has been playing an affirmative role in tackling the problem related with pollution of air, water and land. : Gandhinagar C. L. Meena, IAS : 10.6.2009 Chairman, GPCB ii Index Sr. Particulars Page 1. Introductory 1 2. Constitution of the Board including changes therein. 1 3. Meetings of the Board 1 4. Sub-Committees of the Board and their working 2 5. Area Sub-Committees of the Board and their working 2 6. Activities of the Board, Objectives, Functions & Priorities 2 6.1 Objectives 2 6.2 Functions 3 6.3 Priorities 4 6.4 Activities of the Board 5 CCA, Water, Air, Haz, Consent to establish (formerly NOC), BMW, Plastic, monitoring under Water, Air, Haz. 6.5 Pollution control measures - ETP and APCM. 11 6.6 CETP [Common ETP-effluent treatment plants] 12 6.7 Hazardous wastes facilities 14 6.8 Domestic Sewage Treatment Plants 17 6.9 Bio-medical wastes facilities 20 6.10 Municipal Solid Wastes Rules 22 6.11 Batteries Rules 22 6.12 Water Cess 23 6.13 Air Action Plans- Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, 24 Rajkot(Morbi, Vankaner, Wadhvan), Jamnagar, Vapi & Gandhinagar. 6.14 Environmental Clearance – Public Hearing 31 6.15 Water Quality Monitoring Programmes - GEMS, 41 MINARS projects, rivers, reservoirs, Lakes/Talav, wells [PTO] iii [contd. from prepage] 6.16 Air Quality Monitoring Programmes - Ambient Air 60 Monitoring, Status of Ambient Monitoring Programme, National Ambient Monitoring, cities & various places 6.17 Coastal Monitoring Programmes 70 6.18 Monitoring during Festival Programmes 73 6.19 Bio- Monitoring 75 6.20 Analytical quality control. 76 6.21 Ambient air quality - Navratri, Diwali, and noise levels 77 6.22 Environmental Awareness programmes 93 6.23 Awareness programmes on Xgn - Online application for CCA 114 6.24 Mock - drill. 115 6.25 Important events. 116 7. Visits to the Board by experts, important persons, etc. 119 8. Administrative set up of the Board, Board Meetings – Important 120 decisions thereof. 9. Prosecution launched and offences compounded 122 10. Finance and accounts of the Board 124 11. Direction given by the Government and steps taken to comply 124 with them 12. Any other important matter dealt with by the State Board. 124 Annexures I Members of the Gujarat Pollution Control Board 127 II Members of the Selection Committee 128 III Members of the Promotion Committee 129 IV Members of the Technical Committee 130 V Staff strength for each cadre of the Board 131 VI Administrative set up 132-133 VII Offices of the Board 134 ≈≈≈ iv 1.0 Introductory In accordance with the provisions under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Government of Gujarat constituted the GPCB [Gujarat Pollution Control Board] on 15.10.1974 with a view to protect the environment, prevent and control the pollution of water in the State of Gujarat, that occupies a prominent niche in progressive and industrial development of the country. The Board has been entrusted with the Central Acts and relevant Rules for pollution control as notified thereof from time to time. In October 1974, the Board had initially, staff of 25. Though, the staff strength has increased to 446 yet it is far less than that required by the Board to implement aforesaid laws, effectively. As of today, there are 89 engineers and 136 scientist and analysts. Shri Kiritsinhji Rana, Hon'ble Minister of State for Forest & Environment inaugurated 11th Regional Office at Bhuj on 20.11.2008. Shri Vasanbhai Aahir, Hon'ble Minister of State for Welfare of Socially & Educationally Backward Classes, Government of Gujarat, graced the occasion. Shri R.G. Shah, Sr. Environmental Engineer of the Board inaugurated 12 th Regional Office at Nadiad on 12.12.2008. Moreover, 13 th Regional Office at Junagadh commenced its functions from 16.3.2009. There are now thirteen Regional Offices made functional so far. There are six Regional Offices attached with laboratory facilities are located at Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Vapi, Rajkot and Jamnagar. Regional Offices Godhra, Mehsana, Ahmedabad and Bhavnagar are yet being equipped for analytical facilities. The three new Regional Offices located at Bhuj Nadiad and Junagadh are under development stages. The Head Office performs activities concerning general polices and enforcement