Emission rules to get tougher

The Indian cement industry will now have to follow stringent guidelines for the prevention and control of harmful emissions from

factories. The industry is already struggling to cope with increased cost of raw materials, particularly fly ash, high energy and transportation costs, and also high taxes.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued these guidelines and made it mandatory for cement plants to maintain records pertaining to dust-control actions and make them available to authorities. Besides, cement units would be required to conduct regular inspections of all harmful dust-control systems.

The units would have to maintain documents of technical specifications of the control system and operation and maintenance guidelines. Cement plants would also have to employ a “dust-control officer”, who should have the authority to expeditiously employ sufficient dust-mitigation measures to control harmful emissions. “The dust-control officer should be provided

necessary training and should be aware of operational and maintenance aspects. He should be responsible for proper control of harmful emissions.

Regular training has to be given to the personnel operating and maintaining harmful emissions control systems on the operational and maintenance aspects, and for record-keeping responsibility,” the CPCB said in its guidelines.

All storage piles, except for Gypsum and Clinker, wherever possible, should be kept in moist condition by spraying water at regular intervals for controlling harmful emission, the CPCB said.