WORLD BANK-AIDED POLLUTION CONTROL PROJECTS
At
present, the Ministry of Environment & Forests is implementing
the World Bank aided "Industrial Pollution Prevention Project".
The main objective of this project is to promote cost-effective
pollution abatement by way of strengthening the State Pollution
Control Boards (SPCBs) of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh,
Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Gujarat; facilitating priority investments
dedicated to prevent pollution from industrial sources by encouraging
use of clean technologies & waste minimisation; and providing
technical assistance for adoption of modern tools of information,
management and control. This Project was scheduled to close on
31st March 2002 but its duration has been extended
upto 30th November 2002.
The main achievements under
the Project constitute strengthening of State Pollution Control
Boards (SPCBs) of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh
and Rajasthan by way of upgradation of facilities at 29 laboratories
and procurement of sophisticated scientific equipment for the
laboratories. Management Information System (MIS)/Geographical
Information System (GIS) activities have also been taken up in
Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Besides, "Environmental Outreach’ activities have been carried
out successfully in the SPCBs of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
Two Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs), one at Surat and
the other at Vadodara, have been supported under the project by
grant of Central Subsidy and one industrial Waste Water Recycling
Plant at Mumbai has also been supported. In addition, 65 Waste
Minimisation Circles have been established in various industrial
sectors. Specialised training has been imparted by reputed institutes
to the personnel of SPCBs, Central Pollution Control Board and
officers of the Ministry of Environment and Forests for development
of their skills to enable them to discharge their duties more
effectively.
This information
was given by the Minister for Environment and Forests, Shri T.R.
Baalu, in reply to a question from the Hon’ble Member of Parliament,
Shri Y.V. Rao in Lok Sabha today.
