A clean and healthy environment is a fundamental right of everyone. However, in our quest for economic growth necessary for our sustenance, natural environment has suffered which in turn is now affecting us. Pollution from anthropogenic activities not only impacts human health but also irreversibly damages ecosystems, degrades cultural heritage and agricultural productivity. To counter this, Hon’ble Prime Minister recently launched ‘Mission LiFE’ which encourages citizens to live a lifestyle that is in tune with our planet and does not harm it. Mission LiFE borrows from the past, operates in the present and focuses on the future. Thus, it is imperative to respect our planet in the course of development.

As an apex organization for pollution control in the country, we are committed to preserve wholesomeness of air and water, I want to share with you our accomplishments and aspirations for the future.

In almost five decades since its inception, CPCB has played a crucial role for pollution control, prevention and abatement. It has led efforts to preserve air and water quality by laying down standards for ambient air quality, water quality criteria, performing river basin studies and multi-city source apportionment studies, publishing technical reports, charters, frameworks and guidelines.

While, industries and commercial activities are crucial for economic development, the growth should be in a sustainable and ecofriendly manner. CPCB has developed and continually reviewed standards, guidelines and protocols for various industrial sectors to ensure that under a certain operation conditions the discharge doesn’t exceed the set values attainable with available pollution control technologies. Through, a regulatory framework including robust real time surveillance network, it is ensured that environmental regulations are complied and sustainable growth prevails.

The rapid economic growth has engendered new challenges of pollution such as plastic and electronic waste. CPCB has shouldered the responsibility of guiding holistic waste management to support circular economy in the country through various guidelines such as Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, E- Waste (Management) Amendment Rules, 2018, Bio-Medical Waste Management (Second Amendment) Rules, 2019, Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016 and Hazardous and other Wastes (Management & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016. Even in the face of numerous challenges due to COVID-19, CPCB stepped up to meet the challenges of Bio-medical waste management, and was the first country to come out with Guidelines for Handling, Treatment, and Disposal of Waste Generated during Treatment/Diagnosis/ Quarantine of COVID-19 Patients. As the newer researches emerged, guidelines were continually revised.

In the fifth United Nations Environment Assembly held in Nairobi, Hon’ble Minister EF&CC, Shri Bhupender Yadav, had highlighted how India is driving global consensus to curb plastic pollution with a historic resolution to end plastic pollution, in line with Hon’ble Prime Minister’s clarion call to phase out single use plastic by 2022. CPCB has expedited its actions to achieve this goal. CPCB is playing a key role in the implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility obligations with a view to guide and support our industries, to harness the potential of Circular Economy and holistic pollution control in the country to achieve mission LiFE. Our long term goal is to build a sophisticated data analytics centre and champion e-Governance. We have already stepped up to this challenge by launching multiple digital portals available on this website and public awareness apps.

CPCB, in coordination with SPCBs, and the support of all stakeholders seeks to end the dichotomy between economic growth and preservation of the environment. India at 75 should be a model of sustainable development and will need each citizen’s participation. We must make ‘reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover’ the basics of our lifestyle.

Tanmay Kumar

Chairman      

  
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