Question : Pollution caused by Industries

(a) whether there is no arrangement of drainage of polluted water in most of the industries in the country and they are dumping polluted water underground by boring as a result of which ground water is being polluted on a large scale;
(b) whether any such cases have come to the notice of the Government and if so, the details thereof, Statewise along with the details of the action taken thereon; and
(c) whether the Government proposes to prevent such cases by initiating a special campaign in the country and if so, the time by which it is likely to be started and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a ) to (c) Regulation of industrial pollution is implemented through various provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 under Consent mechanism by the respective State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) in the States and Pollution Control Committee (PCC) in the Union Territory. Industries complying with the effluent discharge norms prescribed in the consent under the Water Act by the SPCBs/PCCs are only allowed to discharge treated industrial effluents into the environment such as inland surface water, public sewers, on land for irrigation and marine coastal areas. Government of India stipulated General discharge standards and industry specific effluent discharge standards under the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 with an aim to prevent pollution in the water bodies. SPCBs/PCC also identify and accordingly specifies the outlets for discharge of treated effluent. Discharge of any treated or untreated wastewater arising from any industrial process is not permitted to be dumped in groundwater through boring.

Central Ground Water Authority vide SO. 3289 ( E) dated 24.09.2020has notified Guidelines for regulation and control of ground water extraction in India, and injection of treated/ untreated waste water into aquifer system is strictly prohibited.

As per information provided by CPCB, one public complaint was received against M/s Milton Laboratories Pvt. Ltd. , Sanyasikuppam, Mannadipet Commune Panchayat, Puducheery for discharging untreated effluent by constructing a borewell. Appropriate actions are taken under section 33A of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.

Central Pollution Control Board and Central Ground Water Authority/Board, in collaboration, and from time to time, organize training programmes and workshops for stakeholders for awareness generation, prevention and control of pollution.

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