CONTROL OF INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION

CONTROL OF INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION

Every litre of waste water discharged by our industry pollutes eight times the quantity of freshwater. How can the industrial pollution of fresh water be reduced? Some suggestions are-

i)   minimising use water for processing by reusing and recycling it in two or more successive stages

ii)  harvesting of rainwater to meet water requirements

iii) treating hot water and effluents before releasing them in rivers and ponds.

Figure 6.10: Sewage Treatment plant under Yamuna action plan at Faridabad

Treatment of industrial effluents can be done in three phases

(a)  Primary treatment by mechanical means. This involves screening, grinding, flocculation and sedimentation.

(b) Secondary treatment by biological process

(c)  Tertiary treatment by biological, chemical and physical processes. This involves recycling of wastewater

Overdrawing of ground water reserves by industry where there is a threat to ground water resources also needs to be regulated legally. Particulate matter in the air can be reduced by fitting smoke stacks to factories with electrostatic precipitators, fabric filters, scrubbers and inertial separators. Smoke can be reduced by using oil or gas instead of coal in factories. Machinery and equipment can be used and generators should be fitted with silencers. Almost all machinery can be redesigned to increase energy efficiency and reduce noise.

Noise absorbing material may be used apart from personal use of earplugs and earphones. The challenge of sustainable development requires integration of economic development with environmental concerns.

NTPC shows the way

NTPC is a major power providing corporation in India. It has ISO certification for EMS (Environment Management System) 14001. The corporation has a proactive approach for preserving the natural environment and resources like water, oil and gas and fuels in places where it is setting up power plants. This has been possible through

(a)  Optimum utilisation of equipment adopting latest techniques and upgrading existing equipment.

(b)  Minimising waste generation by maximising ash utilisation.

(c)  Providing green belts for nurturing ecological balance and addressing the question of special purpose vehicles for afforestation.

(d)  Reducing environmental pollution through ash pond management, ash water recycling system and liquid waste management. 

(e)  Ecological monitoring, reviews and on- line database management for all its power stations.

Figure 6.11:  Ramagundam plant

Source: This topic is taken from NCERT TEXTBOOK