Pollution Control Board warns bio-waste treatment plants not to violate rules

Amaravati: The Pollution Control Board warns private biomedical waste treatment plant owners not to violate the norms prescribed by the Board. There are altogether 11 Common Biomedical Waste Treatment plants in the state spread in 13 districts. All these were directed to make the disposal activities online, for live monitoring.

The PCB Chairman BSS Prasad, who attended the recently concluded World Environment Day celebrations in New Delhi, in an exclusive interview with The Hans India, explained that they already took action against three units located at Srikakulam, Prakasam and Nellore districts last year. They were given permission after some time, but will be accorded severe punishment if they violate the rules second time, he said.

There are more than 5,100 healthcare establishments in the state with an estimated 1,02,000 beds generating biomedical waste which has to be disposed of in a scientific manner within 48 hours, he said. Nearly 9.5 tonnes  of waste is being generated in the state per day.

This must be incinerated between 1200 to 1300 degrees temperature and some other waste must be land filled. All these are being monitored by the PCB through online every day, he explained.

All the 270 Red Category industries or highly polluting industries in the state are being monitored through online. Explaining on the plastic waste management, he said that the plastic pollution could be reduced to zero per cent through various measures including reuse and recycle. Prasad explained that with 16 plastic one litre water bottles (waste), a fine quality shirt could be manufactured.

This was demonstrated in the recently organised Environment Day in New Delhi. Pillows and other garments also are being manufactured from the waste plastic bottle material. 

In the state, the PCB directed all the cement manufacturing units to use the below 15 microns thickness plastic for burning. There are about 20 cement factories in the state and all of them were suggested to utilise the plastic waste.

Apart from that, the government encouraged 10 power plants including three mega plants in Vizag, Guntur and Tirupati with an estimated electricity generation capacity of 1 MW each, under solid waste management in urban areas. These are going to reduce most of the plastic problem, he hoped. The remaining solid waste, particularly the plastic from urban and rural areas is being used for laying tar roads.

The Chairman suggested the crusher units management that there is only simple solution for minimising dust pollution at the units, is crusher cladding, dripping and increasing agro-net (greenery).

If they follow this formula then there would be no pollution. Otherwise, the PCB would take serious action on them. The high pollution due to the crushers was identified at Perecherla in Guntur district, Paritala in Krishna district and some areas in West Godavari district, he said.

There is huge scope for establishing pharma and chemical units in the state. Prasad further informed that the State performed the best among all other states in providing environmental clearances. This was appreciated by other states, on the World Environment Day.