For workshop proceedings, Click here
Alwar, February 28, 2024: Alwar, a mineral-rich district, houses a number of mineral- and stone-based industries, many of which cause air pollution. In fact, due to its high air pollution levels, Alwar has been listed as a ‘non-attainment city’ by the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) launched in 2019 by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
An assessment by New Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has identified fugitive emissions from these industries, industrial waste dumping and burning as the key triggers for air pollution in the district. CSE has now gone ahead to also offer a roadmap for cleaning up Alwar’s air.
As part of the Delhi-NCR region, Alwar falls within the purview of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) established under the CAQM National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021, to address air pollution concerns on a national level.
A workshop titled “Improving Environmental Performance of Industries in Alwar” was conducted jointly here today by CSE and the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) to lay down the roadmap. The focus of the roadmap is on improving environmental performance of industries and providing better infrastructure in the industrial areas.
The workshop brought together key players, including representatives from the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB), Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO), the District Industries Centre (DIC), industries, consultancies and industrial associations.
As per the data provided by the RSPCB, there are approximately 1,200 air polluting industries in Alwar, out of which 1,050 are responsible for fugitive emissions, and 142 are fuel-consuming industries (stack-based). Of the industries responsible for fugitive emissions, 300 are mineral-grinding units, while 45 are stone crushers.
Says Nivit Yadav, Programme Director, Industrial Pollution, CSE: “These sectors, operating in large numbers, generate huge amounts of dust and emissions and need to comply with strict environmental guidelines to reduce their emissions. The dust emanating from these sectors has consistently played a significant role in the escalating air pollution levels in the city, and prompting concerns among nearby residential areas—thus, requiring prioritized attention."
The meeting was also addressed by Dipendra Jharwal, regional officer of RSPCB, who highlighted the importance of regulatory compliance and enforcement mechanisms in tackling air pollution effectively.
Shreya Verma, deputy programme manager with CSE’s industrial pollution unit, adds: “Apart from fugitive emissions from industries, the absence of industrial waste management infrastructure leads to open dumping and burning of industrial waste within industrial areas and worsen the air pollution in Alwar. Establishing adequate infrastructure for industrial waste management is imperative at this juncture.”
CSE and RSPCB jointly recommend the following measures:
Fugitive emissions: All mineral grinding and stone crusher units should follow and ensure the implementation of guidelines outlined by the RSPCB. The RSPCB should ensure the installation and working of well-maintained pollution control equipment in all industries. Consent to operate should be withheld if an industry is not complying with the guidelines.
Infrastructure in industrial areas:
Use of cleaner fuels:
For more information, please contact Shreya Verma of CSE’s industrial pollution unit: shreya@cseindia.org, 8882084294
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