Use of tech to curb pollution underscored

Visakhapatnam: Member Secretary of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) A Sudhakar advised the industries to use technology in measuring air quality in controlling pollution.

The CPCB and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) organised a workshop on ‘Online continuous emission & effluent monitoring systems’ at Ukkunagaram here on Thursday. Delivering the keynote address at the workshop, Sudhakar said that e-Governance and online emission monitoring systems are playing a vital role in ensuring a better and healthy life and are contributing in reducing pollution levels. 

The people are aware about the environmental hazards and that technology and Internet of Things (IoT) are helping them to monitor the air quality and take remedial measures. The industries are coming forward to share the data related to the emissions, thanks to technology and internet, Sudhakar observed. Hailing the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), he commended that the eco-system and the environment protection measures are being implemented by RINL in and around the plant.

Speaking on the occasion, CMD of RINL P Madhusudan said that nature and mankind are struggling to survive due to rise in environment problems. Hence, companies should adopt eco-efficient and innovative practices to balance the nature, he suggested.

The well-defined environmental control measures with strict compliance to standards would reduce human health costs from pollution exposure and added that RINL has introduced new technologies for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and made huge investments on environmental protection systems in expansion also. 

The RINL developed a software tool ‘Evasion’ for posting real time data from  online to the process owners at control points to facilitate timely corrective actions, Madhusudan said.  In his welcome address, additional director of CPCB M Madhusudanan highlighted the advantages of online emission and monitoring systems to control  pollution created by the industries.

Senior environmental engineer of Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board P Ravindranath, Director  (Operations) RINL PK Rath and officials from CPCB and APPCB were present.