CPCB’s NEW GUIDELINES FOR INDIA’S STONE CRUSHER SECTOR

Latest Context

It has been known that stone crushing units are a significant source of fugitive dust emissions and severe air pollution.

• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) released the Environmental Guidelines for Stone Crushing Units in response to the increasing concern.
• The recommendations made by the non-profit Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which has its headquarters in New Delhi, are in accordance with the principles.

Key Guidelines Released By CPCB

• The CPCB recommendations cover a range of topics related to stone crushing, including source emissions, product storage, transportation, water use, and legal compliance.
• Key features of the guidelines are:

1. Stone crushers shall seek approval to establish and consent to operate (CTO) from the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) before starting operations.
2. Stone crushing plants must adhere to the Environment (Protection) Rules, the emission requirements set down in 1986, and the standards indicated in the CTO by the applicable SPCB/PCC.
3. They should install enough pollution control equipment, such as dust suppression systems, covers, screens, and sprinklers, to restrict the dust emissions from crushing, loading, and unloading processes.
4. They should also keep their items in silos or covered areas to prevent wind-blown.
5. The stone crushers are required to responsibly use water, ensure its availability and purity, legally purchase their raw materials, and maintain correct records of their dealings.
6. A District Level Committee will be constituted under the guidance of the District Magistrate/Deputy Commissioner in order to routinely carry out unexpected inspections for the surveillance of stone crushing plants situated within their jurisdiction.
7. Every six months, the stone crusher should examine the health of its employees.

Challenges Related with Stone Crushing Units

• Stone crushing units are one of India's major sources of air pollution.
• These machines create crushed stone, which is used as a primary building material in many different construction projects.
• The substantial amount of dust generated during the stone-crushing process has an effect on the health of the workers and those nearby.
• Additionally, this activity is connected to stone mining, which damages the environment.

Recent occurrences:

• The Haryana government proposed relaxing the rules governing the placement of new stone crushers near residential areas in December 2022. This was opposed by environmentalists because they believed it would have an adverse effect on farms and the quality of the air.
• Numerous stone crushers in India are purportedly operating without SPCB certification or environmental clearance, according to a CSE investigation from June 2023.
• The bulk of these units lacked adequate pollution control measures or monitoring systems, which was another concern mentioned in the report.

Initiatives to Address the challenge:

• The Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority (EPCA) outlawed the operation of brick kilns, hot mix plants, and stone crushing facilities as part of the execution of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
• In order to prevent the air quality in Delhi-NCR from getting worse and prevent PM10 and PM2.5 levels from going over the "moderate" national Air Quality Index (AQI) category, numerous government entities are included in GRAP's proposed actions.
• In a report done in May 2023 by Pune University researchers, it was shown that a typical stone crushing plant there had successfully implemented pollution control measures and reduced its dust emissions by 90%. Other stone crushers in India may decide to imitate similar factories, the study said.

What is the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)?

• The establishment of the CPCB as a statutory body was permitted by the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, which was passed in September 1974.
• The CPCB was also given the power and obligation to perform its tasks by the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981.
• It is India's apex body for environmental preservation and pollution control. It operates under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and collaborates with other agencies as well as State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs).
• The CPCB is divided into many sections that handle various facets of pollution control, including management of air quality, water quality, hazardous waste, environmental assessment, laboratory services, information technology, and public involvement

Conclusion

• While the CPCB rules cover a number of essential pollution control features, some still need modification. The rules do not address solitary stone crushers' noise emissions or when they should operate, which frequently annoy and upset neighbours.
• Furthermore, it is crucial to urge SPCBs to adequately enforce the standards and to provide stone crushers precise deadlines to follow the rules.

 

Prelims

Q.1 In the cities of our country, which among the following atmospheric gases are normally considered in calculating the value of Air Quality Index? (2016)

1.Carbon dioxide

2.Carbon monoxide

3.Nitrogen dioxide

4.Sulfur dioxide

5.Methane

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 2, 3 and 4 only

(c) 1, 4 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Ans: (b)

Mains

Q.1 Describe the key points of the revised Global Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) recently released by the World Health Organisation (WHO). How are these different from its last update in 2005? What changes in India’s National Clean Air Programme are required to achieve revised standards? (2021)

Must Check: IAS Coaching Centre In Delhi