Abstract Title: | India’s Environmental regulation- A customized real-time monitoring with global standards |
Presenter Name: | Mr Sanjeev K. Kanchan |
Company/Organisation: | Independent Environmental Research & Advocacy expert |
Country: | India |
Abstract Information :
Real-time monitoring is seen as a future of environmental regulation in India which can catapult the convention system to the global best practices. Given the size, diversity and available infrastructure, adopting a whole new system was a truly a big task which the government initiated nearly 6 years back. The most complicated part of it was to adopt standard practices but make them fit to the local environmental regulation.
CEMS for air quality monitoring and CEQMS for water and Effluent quality monitoring was adopted in major industries. Gradually, it is being pushed in medium scale as well. To maintain the quality of global standard, like the EU, use of certified equipment was allowed. However, to encourage “Make in India” non-certified equipment was permitted but with USEPA-type performance tests during installation. To align with best practices, system of indigenous certification and laboratory empanelment for tests, inspection and certification, was also adopted which is under development.
Phase wise targets were set- starting with maximum installation in industries, ensuring regular operation, maximum data availability, proper maintenance to currently focussed better data quality target. Challenges were many, from selection of technology, to capacity building which are being dealt for large scale industries.
Going ahead, the market is further big, but a new set of challenges are ahead that is price affordability for medium and small-scale industries. Non-affordability is also a challenge in installation of huge number of real-time ambient air quality monitoring stations to cover the large geography of India. A demand for good quality but affordable CEMS, CEQMS and CAAQMS is rising. In addition, demand for portable monitors which are handy to use in inspection and tests are also rising at the same time.
The demand is huge, knowing the coming phase of implementation has many thousands of industries in queue, opening the doors for experts, service providers and technology manufacturers across the globe. Opportunities are huge but solutions need to be affordable, rugged and credible.