(a) whether the Government is aware that cement industries are major source of
pollution in the country especially in the North-Eastern region;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the corrective steps taken/ being taken in this regard;
(c) whether any new benchmark has been formulated by the Government to curb the pollution by the cement industries; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)
(a)&(b) Cement industries are categorised under 17 category of highly polluting units by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and identified as one of the sources of air pollution. The CPCB and/ or State Pollution Control Boards/ Pollution Control Committees (SPCBs/ PCCs) carry out random inspections of cement plants to check their level of pollution and compliance to prescribed standards. CPCB has issued directions to three non-compliant cement plants in North-Eastern region under section 18(1)(b) of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to take appropriate mitigation measures and comply with prescribed norms.
(c)&(d) The Government has notified emission norms for the cement industry vide notification dated 25.08.2014 and its amendment dated 09.05.2016. Emission norms are also notified for cement plants carrying out co-processing of wastes in their rotary cement kilns vide notification dated 10.05.2016 which prescribed emission limits of Particulate Matter, Sulphur Dioxide and Oxides of Nitrogen.
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