Polluting cos stare at June deadline on emission e-monitoring

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has warned highly-polluting industries like pharmaceuticals, fertilisers and oil refineries that their licences will be withdrawn if they fail to put in place an online emission and effluent monitoring system by June.
"If the industries will not install an online monitoring system by June 30, 2015, their consent to operate shall be withdrawn," the CPCB said, in a recent directive.
The 17 highly-polluting industries have also been asked to submit a bank guarantee of 100 per cent of the cost of online monitoring systems (emission and effluent, whichever applicable) for ensuring timely installation of e-monitoring system by June this year.

Such bank guarantee will be discharged if they install the system before June, CPCB said, adding that failing which, the "bank guarantee shall be forfeited".
The move is aimed at inculcating a habit of self-monitoring mechanism on 'polluter pays principle' basis for complying with the prescribed standards.
"It's becoming a need and necessity to regulate and minimise inspection of industries on a routine basis and instead efforts need to be made to bring self-discipline in the industries and transmit data of effluent and emission compliance to SPCBs/PCCs and the CPCB on a continuous basis," the watchdog added.

State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) are mandated to ensure installation and regular operation of the requisite pollution control facilities in polluting industries.

The CPCB said these industries have been discharging environmental pollutants directly or indirectly into air and water, which pose a constant threat.
It added that common hazardous and biomedical waste incinerators and Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) in states have also been releasing environmental pollutants directly or indirectly.