RBS Rawat | Dehradun

With a view to combat the menace of industrial pollution at national-level, a Pollution Control Research Institute (PCRI) has been set up by the Department of Heavy Industry (Government of India), through Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at Haridwar. The objectives of PCRI are environmental management, pollution control in areas of air, water, noise and solid waste and providing consultancy services for cost effective solutions to reduce pollution level within norms and conserve natural resources.

PCRI is recognised by Central Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Environment and Forests, as an Environmental Laboratory and approved as Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) consultant by QCI under Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986.

PCRI conducts environmental impact assessment (EIA) studies leading to the environmental clearance of the projects for set up of new industrial units. EIA studies were conducted for Thermal Power plants of Electricity Boards of Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. A detailed study was also conducted by PCRI covering various aspects of water pollution from thermal power stations located in UP, Bihar, MP, Gujarat, Maharastra, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Delhi.

PCRI has also conducted EIA studies for Khaitan Fertilisers, Rampur and for DG based power plant near Imphal and Dimapur for Government of Manipur and Nagaland respectively. PCRI has done successfully combined Rapid EIA study at proposed Manmad-Manglya extension pipeline of BPCL and for proposed hazardous waste disposal site at Faridabad.

The Government of India has made it mandatory for all industries to submit Environmental Statement for the financial year by September 30, each year to the respective State Pollution Control Boards in terms of the 1993 gazette notification issued by Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. PCRI has undertaken work related to detailed environmental audit and preparation of environmental statement for number of engineering industry viz M/s Shriram Piston and Rings Ltd, Ghaziabad, Bharat Electronics Ltd, Kotdwar and number of thermal power stations of UP Electricity Board who have derived considerable benefit from the Environmental Audit report prepared by the institute.

PCRI has carried out regional environmental studies for Ministry of Environment and Forests, related to Environmental Quality in Dhanbad, Durgapur and Dehradun regions. PCRI has conducted environmental quality studies for Bandel and Santaldih Thermal Power Stations for West Bengal State Electricity Board. These studies included assessment of environmental quality in the region and monitoring of emission from major polluting sources, process effluents, ambient air quality, ground water quality and recommendations for the improvement of overall environmental quality in these regions.

PCRI conducted Environmental Quality Studies for Agra region covering assessment of impact of pollution arising from cast iron foundries on historical monuments.

PCRI carried out work entrusted by Directorate of Environment, Govt of UP, Lucknow, which included environmental studies for the selected sites, identification of hazardous industries and design of hazardous waste disposal site for Dehradun as well as Agra districts.

PCRI has undertaken an extensive survey for ambient air quality, noise levels and on pollution, wastage, oil consumption by three wheelers in Delhi in compliance to the work assigned to them by Petroleum Conservation Research Association, Ministry of Petroleum, New Delhi.

National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD), Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt of India, has entrusted to PCRI work related to assessment of water quality of Ganga river, Western Yamuna canal and Upper reaches of Ganga under Ganga Action Plan Phase-II programme. Under this programme PCRI is carrying out investigation of sources of pollution and assessment of quality of water in Ganga from Rishikesh to Garhmukteshwar and for Western Yamuna canal from Yamunanagar to Sonepat.

The river water quality assessment studies in the Upper reaches of Ganga are being undertaken from Badrinath to Anupshahar covering Ganga and its tributary rivers. PCRI is also carrying out performance evaluation of sewage treatment plants established under Ganga Action Plan phase-II at Rishikesh, Haridwar and Sonepat.

PCRI conducted studies related to the assessment of water quality of Ganga river due to Mass bathing during Kumbh Mela '98 and during Ardh Kumbh '04 at Hardwar, water quality of river Kshipra at Ujjain during Kumbh '04. This work was assigned to PCRI by Central Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt of India, New Delhi.

PCRI is in the panel of approved consultants of various State Pollution Control Boards.

PCRI has provided consultancy services to number of industries to tackle their pollution problems, which also includes designing of effluent treatment plants to industries. The institute also undertakes designing of ventilation systems, fume extraction system for improvement in work-place environment. The institute has also carried out field studies related to noise pollution from industries, Thermal Power Stations and Hydro Power Plants.

PCRI has already undertaken work related to risk analysis and preparation of disaster management plan for M/s HCL, Allahabad and number of Thermal Power Stations. PCRI recently completed Rapid Risk Analysis of proposed Manmad-Manglya extension pipeline at BPCL.

A large number of industries utilise the facilities of PCRI for monitoring and analysis work related to air, water, noise and solid wastes on regular basis. PCRI has its own Air and Water quality monitoring vans equipped with state of art equipment, which are extensively used by the institute for regular monitoring work required by number of industries.

PCRI organises training programmes for specific requirements in the field of Environmental Audit, Water Quality analysis etc for various organisations. An International Conference on Environmental Impact Analysis was organised by the institute besides a number of national seminars regular training programmes on current environmental topics for the benefit of professionals engaged in pollution abatement and environmental protection.

A National Seminar on "Environmental Auditing for Industries" in collaborations with Ministry of Forests & Environment. Every year the institute imparts training to large number of graduate and post-graduate students from various universities as vocational trainees. PCRI is also enlisted as nodal training centre by Central Pollution Control Board for organising training programme for the officials of State Pollution Control Board and Government officials. In recent past, number of such training programmes on various issues related to air pollution, water pollution, Municipal Solid Waste Management and Environmental Impact Assessment studies have been organised by PCRI. PCRI also provide faculty support for imparting training to various organisations such as M/s NTPC, IIFM, BHEL and UP Jal Nigam etc.