Patiala News:PPCB Head Intensifies Action Against Black Smoke and Strengthens Measures to Protect Water Resources
“Let’s Make Punjab a state of zero-black Smoke & Cleanest water,” resolves PPCB Chair
The Punjab Pollution Control Board is strengthening source-specific environmental interventions across Punjab with a focused approach towards controlling visible emissions, preventing pollution of water resources and promoting cleaner industrial practices.
As part of the directions emerging from the recent review of Regional and Zonal Offices, the Chairperson Reena Gupta has prioritised identification of black-smoke hotspots and preventing riverwater contamination.
Training and Complaince against Visible emissions
Specialised guidance and standard operating processes (SOPs) will be developed for sectors including brick kilns, rice shellers, furnaces and hazardous-waste-generating units, among other identified sectors. Regional Offices will also organise training programmes in local languages for major industry clusters on applicable SOPs and best practices for mitigating pollution.
Particular attention is being given to brick kilns, where compliance with approved fuel-use requirements and cleaner operating practices will be promoted. Brick-kiln owners and workers will receive technical training in coordination with Punjab State Council for Science & Technology on zig-zag operation, approved fuels, maintenance practices, black-smoke prevention and associated health impacts.
Purchase orders for stubble/rice-straw pellets will also be sought as documentary evidence of compliance with fuel-use requirements during field inspections. The Board will also develop a model and best-practice approach for cleaner operations with technical support from the Princeton University, along with awareness materials, videos and compliance guidance documents with the support of the Centre for Study of Science, Technology and Policy.
Training and facilitation will extend to other sectors as well such as for rice-sheller, stone-crusher, electroplating-unit owners, supervisors and workers, covering operating CPCB-approved SOPs, chemical handling, effluent treatment plant operation, hazardous-waste management, worker safety and other pollution-control requirements.
For other industrial sectors, targeted inspections and technical training will address recurring causes of visible emissions, including operating practices, feeding systems, recuperators, air seals and coal pulverisers, wherever applicable.
Preventing river pollution
The board is simultaneously strengthening measures to safeguard water resources. The Chairperson has directed all the regional offices to facilitate night CCTV camera installation with night vision and motion sensor features for all potential outlets of industries alongside rivers and tributaries. High-risk areas and water-polluting units will be identified through monitoring data, background studies and complaint history.
In areas where risks to drains have been identified, the Board has directed preparation of technology-driven measures for source identification, monitoring and timely escalation. Drone-based assessment, wherever useful and technically appropriate, will also be considered. The Board will further coordinate with relevant departments and stakeholders for preventive and corrective measures.
The Board has also directed that applicable environmental clearance conditions, rainwater-harvesting provisions, pollution-control systems and other regulatory requirements be comprehensively reviewed during inspections.
Gupta said, “Our approach must be focused on identifying environmental hotspots, understand the technical reasons behind pollution and put practical solutions in place. Black smoke, apart from being a visible emission, signals that cleaner operating practices and appropriate pollution-control measures must be adopted. Similarly, every drain, water channel and catchment is an environmental asset that must be protected from unauthorised pollution.”
She added, “By embracing digital monitoring, scientific decision-making and continuous stakeholder engagement, we are building a regulatory framework that is transparent, responsive and aligned with Punjab’s vision of sustainable development. We resolve to make Punjab a state of zero-black smoke & the cleanest water.”
The PPCB will continue to combine targeted regulatory action with technical guidance, monitoring and capacity building to promote cleaner industrial operations and protection of Punjab’s environmental resources.