The Central government has announced amendments to the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, with respect to the sugar industry regarding effluents and concentration values in milligramme per litre.
According to the notification, the Total Suspended Solids (TSS) allowed are 100 milligramme per litre (for disposal on land) and 30 mg/lt (for disposal in surface waters). Biological Oxgyen Demand is 100 (for disposal on land), BOD [3 days at 27°C] 30 mg/lt (for disposal in surface waters), Oil & Grease 10 mg/lt while Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) 2100mg/lt.
The new amendments also limit the final wastewater discharge to 200 litre per tonne of cane crushed. It adds, “Final treated effluent discharge restricted to 100 litre per tonne of cane crushed and wastewater from spray pond overflow or cooling tower blow down to be restricted to 100 litre per tonne of cane crushed and only single outlet point from unit is allowed.”
With regards to emissions, the notification says that the particulate matter emissions from the stack shall be less than 150 milligramme per normal cubic metre. The ministry has put out treated effluent irrigation protocol and wastewater conservation or wastewater management in sugar industries.
Wastewater conservation and pollution control management
1. Establishment of cooling arrangement and polishing tank for recycling the excess condensate water to process or utilities or allied units.
2. Effluent Treatment Plant to be stabilised one month prior to the start of the crushing season; continue to operate one month after the crushing season.
3. During no demand period for irrigation, the treated effluent to be stored in a seepage-proof lined pond having 15 days holding capacity only.
4. Flow meter to be installed in all water abstraction points and usage of fresh water to be minimised.
5. Suitable air pollution control devices to be installed to meet the particulate matter emission standard.
Meanwhile, industry experts welcomed the move but felt that it would take some time to implement by the smaller units.
