ENFORCEMENT UNDER ENVIRONMENT (PROTECTION) ACT, 1986

In the recent years, imposition of various enforcement responsibilities upon the Board under EP Act has further widened the domain of Board's activities. The MoEF has brought out the notifications under Hazardous Waste Management & Handling) Rules, Chemical Accident (Emergency Planning, Preparedness & Responses) Rules, Public Liability Insurance Act, Batteries (Management & Handling) Rules, Hazardous Chemical Rules, Biomedical Waste Rules, Municipal Solid Waste Rules, Manufacture of Recycled Plastic Rules and Notification on utilisation of flyash generated from Thermal Power Plants. All these have imposed tremendous responsibilities and work pressure upon the Board for ensuring enforcement in a convincing manner. The Board is expected to play a proactive role in providing a cleaner environment through the above Rules for which Board has undertaken the following actions :

Implementation of Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Rules, 1989 and amendment thereof (May, 2003)

1. As per provisions of Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling) Rule, 1989 and amendment 2003, the Board ensures proper management of hazardous waste through authorization administration. The industries were identified based on hazardous waste categorization specified in the rules and authorization is being granted for five years as specified in the rule. The authorization status as per the amendment rule is summarized below :

•  As per specific directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India on dtd.14.10.2003, following actions were taken:

(a) All the used oil reprocessing industries not following environmental sound

technology were issued direction of closure under Section 5 of Environmental

(Protection) Act, 1986.

(b) In compliance to the direction of Honb'le Supreme Court of India dt. 14.10.2003 industries were asked to display environmental information at the main gate for public view. 110 nos of Hazardous waste generating industries have displayed information w.r.t. the special condition given in consent order under AIR(PCP) Act, 1981 and Authorization under Hazardous Waste (Management & Handling), Rules, 1989 and amendment thereof.

•  The Board has completed inventorisation of hazardous waste generating units in the Sate as per Hazardous Waste (Management and handling) Amendment Rule, 2003. 257 nos of industries have been identified for generating hazardous waste in 21 nos. of districts in Orissa. Nine districts don't have any hazardous waste generating units.

•  National Productivity Council (NPC) is engaged to prepare a rehabilitation plan for 7 nos of identified hazardous waste dump sites.

•  As per directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India the industries generating hazardous waste are asked to carryout third party audit involving person from local community.

•  Industrial Infrastructural development Corporation of Orissa (IIDCO) has been declared as Nodal Agency for development of Common Treatment , Storage and Disposal Facility (TSDF) site at Rourkela .

•  The Board has provided financial assistance of Rs. 10.00 lakhs to IIDCO to meet the expense during the preparatory phase.

Implementation of Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989 and amendment thereof (January 2000)

The Board has granted permission for 9 consignments for import of hazardous chemicals to the State. The major chemicals imported to the State are Ammonium nitrate, Ammonia, Caustic Soda, Refractory Chemicals.

Implementation of Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991

As per the provisions of Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 the industries handling hazardous chemicals above the regulatory quantity are required to take insurance policy for providing immediate relief to the victims in case of a chemical accident. Efforts have been taken to create awareness among the concerned industries to take such insurance. 22 numbers of industries handling hazardous chemicals have taken the insurance policy under the above Act.

Implementation of Batteries (Management & Handling) Rules, 2001

The Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001 were notified in May 2001. These Rules specifies the responsibilities of Lead-Acid battery Manufacturers, Importers, Dealers, Bulk consumers, Auctioneers etc. so that the environmental consequences due to waste generated by Lead-Acid batteries in handling is minimized. The Board has taken following steps to implement the provisions of the Rules.

Show cause notice has been issued to 2 numbers of Battery manufacturing units for not submitting half-yearly returns in time. Similarly notices to 24 Bulk consumer units have been issued for not submitting the half-yearly returns.