WBPCB, India Bali, Indonesia 16 September 2014 1

Consultation Workshop:
Developing an Environmental Compliance Assistance Center promoting
compliance in the Sponge Iron Sector
Peerless Inn Hotel, Durgapur
West Bengal, India
Institutional Arrangement of Environmental
Compliance Assistance Center in West Bengal
Dr. Dipak Chakraborty
Chief Scientist
West Bengal Pollution Control Board
WBPCB, India Bali, Indonesia 16 September 2014 2
Legislations

Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974

Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977

Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), Government of India (GoI)
is given overriding power to notify various Rules for environmental
safeguards



Environmental Compliance
Statutory Requirements for Industries
Directions & notifications issued by MoEF, GoI
All the environmental Acts and Rules are promulgated by Federal
Govt. of India
Statutory power to implement different acts and rules are delegated to
State level pollution control agencies within the territorial jurisdiction of
the states
WBPCB, India Bali, Indonesia 16 September 2014 3
Driving principle: Command and Control Approach
Most of the power is decentralised to State Pollution Control
Boards/Agencies
Instrument for ensuring compliance:

- Permit regime

- Surveillance Programme
Environmental Compliance
Statutory Requirements for Industries
WBPCB, India Bali, Indonesia 16 September 2014 4
Permit Regime - Compliance of environmental statutes
Consent to Establish to be obtained
before establishment of any new industry
before expansion or modification of existing industrial process
pollution abatement proposal should be sufficient for containment of
environmental pollution within permissible norms
Environmental clearances
only applicable for specific activities mentioned in EIA notification
Consent to Operate to be obtained
for operating any industrial unit
to be renewed periodically
normally granted after the unit complies with environmental norms
Authorisation to be obtained
for management and handling of Hazardous wastes
for management and handling of Biomedical wastes
Environmental Compliance
Statutory Requirements for Industries
WBPCB, India Bali, Indonesia 16 September 2014 5
Surveillance Programme - Compliance of environmental
standards

Compliance of liquid effluent discharge standard
- Primarily concentration based standards
- General and industry specific discharge standards
- Mass based standards (in some specific cases like Pulp & Paper, Fertiliser,
Oil Refinery etc.)

Compliance of emission standards (primarily particulate matters)

Proper management and treatment of hazardous wastes
Treatment and disposal as provided under the Hazardous Wastes
(Management & Handling) Rules

Environmental Compliance
Statutory Requirements for Industries
WBPCB, India Bali, Indonesia 16 September 2014 6
Analyzing the reasons for poor environmental
compliance by the industries
Environment management is still considered as an externality in
developing countries like India


Lack of involvement of top management of industries in environment
management practices (for unorganised sector)


Lack of understanding about the statutory requirement for
environmental compliance


Non-availability of information on appropriate emission control
technology and reliable vendors for installing the same


Absence of properly accredited agencies generally capable of
supporting industries in its endeavour to comply environmental
norms
WBPCB, India Bali, Indonesia 16 September 2014 7
An independent and reliable Environmental
Compliance Assistance Center in West Bengal can
facilitate better compliance providing information
support to entrepreneurs regarding statutory
requirements as also environmental management
planning (handholding approach)
WBPCB, India Bali, Indonesia 16 September 2014 8
AECEN
AECEN (Asian Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Network) a
regional network established by the environmental agency leaders of
Asian countries (India, Japan, Indonesia, Nepal, Peoples Republic of
China, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam) to
promote environmental compliance in Asia.


International development agencies like USAID, USEPA, WB, ADB
collaborate with the AECEN.


AECEN works from its headquarter at Manila, Philippines


Shri Sudhir Mittal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests,
Government of India is the National Coordinator for India in AECEN
initiatives.


AECEN has established Environmental Compliance Assistance Center
(ECAC) in Thailand and Philippines and operating successfully
WBPCB, India Bali, Indonesia 16 September 2014 9
ECAC at Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Department of Environment, GoWB conceived to establish an ECAC for
the state of West Bengal under aegis of AECEN

ECAC will function as an independent agency from the office of the
WBPCB, Kolkata

Primary functions of the ECAC would be:
to collect and disseminate information to apprise the industry of the state
on environmental policies, strategies, acts, regulations, standards and best
practices
to catalyze technical assistance to help the industry to analyze and
evaluate technology options and access funding opportunities
organize training programmes to develop enhanced industry capacity to
introduce innovative technologies demonstrating cost efficiency and
environmental benefits, conduct self monitoring and mainstream
environmental issues into corporate practices

AECEN and WB would provide financial support for setting up the ECAC
WBPCB, India Bali, Indonesia 16 September 2014 10
ECAC at Kolkata, West Bengal, India
First consultation workshop of ECAC was held at Kolkata in April 2008

Strategic Partner Meeting was held in September 2008 to identify specific
inputs from ECAC partners, including FOSMI, ICC, IIPCs of JU, BESU &
IISWBM

A twelve member Steering Committee involving the major stakeholders
has been constituted by the State Government for framing policy
guidelines for the ECAC

An Action Plan has been prepared for proposed activities of ECAC

AECEN Secretariat has agreed to provide US$ 25,000 for the initial
expenses for setting up the ECAC and related activities

WBPCB will provide a seed money of Rs. 10 lacs (US$ 20,000) towards
initial hardware support and publication costs

ECAC will be further developed and strengthened under the upcoming WB
project on Capacity Building for Industrial Pollution Management
Project
WBPCB, India Bali, Indonesia 16 September 2014 11
Thank You