GUWAHATI, April 29– A high-level team headed by Prof JL Dutta, Chairman of Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA) visited Gauhati Refinery on April 27 and had a discussion with the Executive Director and other senior officials of Gauhati Refinery and asked to take necessary measures for pollution control, stated a release.During his visit, he directed to the authority not to discharge the effluent into the river Brahmaputra. Subsequently, the authority of Gauhati Refinery gave a verbal assurance that they will recycle the effluent and no discharge will go to the river after April, 2006.
The adoption of recycling process will certainly help in the improvement of water quality of the river, Brahmaputra.Further, he also asked to monitor the effluent presently discharged in the Brahmaputra every alternate day and to submit the report to PCBA accordingly.
At present effluent analysis is being carried out once in a month. Petro coke mixed with oily sludge has been dumped in a huge tank for last 20-25 years, openly, for which it creates continuous pollution in and around the area. The chairman has asked the authority to take immediate necessary abatement measures.
He also directed the Refinery authority not to discharge any oil containing wastewater through surface drains. He further instructed to take immediate steps for fulfillment of Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) installation. He also directed to check the health of the refinery workers and the report should submit to the PCBA monthly. He also suggested for plantation in and around the industrial premises.He stressed on steps to minimise the flare losses and asked the Refinery authority to monitor regularly. He also called for install on line continuous monitoring system in each and every stacks.
The chairman, PCBA also visited various industries located in Guwahati, and asked them to take all possible pollution control measures as per PCBA’s instruction. He stressed on massive plantation in and around the factory premises, installation of pollution control devices, health monitoring of workers– once in every three months and submit the report to the PCBA.
He welcomed industrialization because the State is industrially backward and overall economic growth of the State but at the same time he stated that no compromise will be made with the industries which will violate pollution control norms.
He further stressed on the need for control of vehicular pollution which is major contributor towards Guwahati city’s air pollution. He has moved the chief Minister and the Transport Minister of the State about strict monitoring of ‘Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate issued by the agents of Transport Department and to submit total number of PUC certificate issued for last year along with the periodic checkup, phasing out of old vehicles which emit heavy black smoke and control of noise pollution.The chairman expected that these steps will certainly improve the quality of environment in and around Guwahati as well as the State which will be much better than what is today, stated a release.
