The oceans around the globe have become the dumping ground for everything and huge quantity of plastic is dumped into it. This is already a major ecological problem and the aquatic life is threatened. Something needs to be done to arrest this issue, said Justice S.V. Bhatt, High Court of Judicature of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. He was chairing a technical session on the second day of the two-day Regional Conference on Environment that was organised by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and Andhra Pradesh and Telangana State Pollution Control Boards, here on Sunday.

He said, as a common man, his concern is mainly on solid waste management and plastic waste management. He said that implementation of solid waste management rules are not only concerned to the State PCBs and local bodies, but they are also concerned to the public. He sought active participation of public for successful management of solid wastes. He also suggested that the students should learn the approach of invent, work hard and proto type principles to address the problems.

Dr. B. Sengupta, Former Member Secretary, CPCB, said that millions of litres of untreated and partially treated sewage waste was polluting the rivers and this sewage needs to be treated and reused for industrial purpose.

Global challenges

Speaking on Global Environmental Challenges, Dr. K.V.S.G. Murali Krishna, Principal, University College of Engineering, Narasaraopet, said that mankind is faced with 10 global challenges such as global warming, ozone holes, biodiversity, waste/pollution management, dwindling resources, poverty, energy and health. He stressed that environmental education is the only solution for resolving all the global challenges.

Mr. G.P.S. Murty, Senior Principal Scientist and Scientist in-charge, NIO, Regional Centre, Visakhapatnam, spoke on Sustainable Coastal and Marine Environment through CRZ Rules.

He presented that sustainable development of coastal resources is a major purpose of coastal management and planning. He informed that sustainable development and optimal use of natural resources, environmental considerations are required to be integrated in planning, designing and implementation of development projects.

Dr. S.K. Jain, Additional General Manager (EMG), NTPC, Ramagundam, spoke on Meeting the New Emission Norms and Fly Ash Utilisation at Coal Fired Power Plants.

Dr. Jain said that in order to meet the stringent emission norms for power plants stipulated by the Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change, there is a need to install specific pollution control equipment such as Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD) systems for gaseous emissions and Selective Non-Catalytic Reduction (SNCR) or Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR).