Question : Water Pollution by Sugar Industries

(a) whether the attention of the Government has been drawn to large scalewater pollution by sugar industries in the country;
(b) if so, whether the Government has notified stricter environmental and usage standards for sugar industries operating in different parts of the country recently;
(c) if so, the details of the new norms and the reaction of the sugar industries thereto; and
(d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to set up 24x7 online monitoring protocol through the sensor based centralized system in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) Sugar industries are identified as one of the major water polluting sectors and included in the 17 Category of highly polluting industries.

(b)&(c) The Government has notified revised stricter environmental standards on January 14, 2016 under Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 wherein standards for additional parameters have been prescribed viz. pH, Oil & Grease (O&G) and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). Wastewater discharge standards have also been made stricter to 200 litre per tonne of cane crushed and protocol for treated water irrigation and wastewater management has also been included in the revised standards. The standards were revised after extensive consultation with stakeholders including representatives of sugar industry.

(d) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had issued Show Cause Notice on 24.07.2015 under Section 5 of Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to 602 Sugar units across the country for installation of Online Effluent Monitoring System (OEMS). CPCB has reported that 164 Sugar units have installed OEMS and 255 units are at various stages of installation of OEMS. 40 units, which are reported to be closed, have been directed not to resume crushing of cane till installation of OEMS is completed.
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