Pollution during construction of Buildings and Infrastructure

[Suyojit Gaikwad]

THERE ARE AIR, WATER AND NOISE POLLUTION DURING CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES. Will it be right to give waiver such projects from Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate? These are permissions project proponents have to take from Pollution Control Board. As per categorisation done by Pollution Control Board construction activities comes in Orange category. Any construction causes direct and indirect effect on the environment and society. Shadow effect, heat island effect, increase in WATER runoff, and many more kind of effects can be observed.

As per WATER act Pollution Control Boards established to control the pollution. Pollution Control Boards started working with MoEF & CC as a autonomous body and helping hand to control pollution.

As per 9th Dec 2016 regulations issued there will be no need of Environment Clearance for residential construction projects till 150000 square meter of construction activity. Local Authorities will look after environment related compliance. It's good that honorable NGT has put stay on it for time being. As per 2nd Feb 2017 Direction of CPCB there will be no need of Consent to Establish subject to There should be one member of Pollution Control Board is also a member of Environment appraisal committee. Consent to.Operate Will be required.

If we see current scenario, local authorities are not even properly able to Manage Solid Waste. There are deficiency of experts, instruments, infrastructure and proper management. Where as pollution control board are doing their work very efficient manner. Boards have sector specialists, adequate infrastructure and proper management to measure and control pollution.

Under these circumstances how much this decision is correct?

[Sangeeta Mukherjee]

I completely agree with your view about the grave concern behind these exemptions. Looking forward to some breakthrough from the ongoing NGT challenge of the same.