Online effluent monitors put up in major Gzb industries

Industries like sugar, paper, and distilleries have completed the installation of real-time/online continuous monitoring system at the outlets of their effluent treatment plants.

Industries like sugar, paper, and distilleries have completed the installation of real-time/online continuous monitoring system at the outlets of their effluent treatment plants (ETPs). These systems were installed by 11 of the major industries in Ghaziabad and Hapur districts in pursuance of the directions of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2015.

According to officials of the regional pollution control board, the online systems were installed by industries at Site IV industrial area, Loni, Dasna, Modi Nagar, Ghaziabad city, and in neighbouring Hapur district.

“All the industries required to install the online system have done so and are being monitored by the CPCB through the system. In our area, we have fully complied with the board’s directions. The log-in ids and passwords of the system are with the state and Central pollution boards and they regularly monitor the effluents online,” said Paras Nath, regional manager from UP Pollution Control Board at Ghaziabad.

As per the procedure, the online system is installed at the industries’ ETP outlets. From there, sensors send readings to an electronic device that transmits data related to biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, suspended solids, and PH levels of the effluents.

“However, as the sensors remain underwater throughout, we have to regularly clean them of any deposits. There has been no complaint about our unit from the CPCB since the time we installed the system,” he added.

According to official data from the regional pollution control board, Ghaziabad has nearly 367 air-polluting and another nearly 368 water-polluting industries. These also include the grossly polluting sugar, distilleries, and paper industries.

Apart from industries, the regional department has also issued directions to the district’s registered slaughterhouses to install the online monitoring systems at the earliest. There are four registered slaughterhouses in Dasna where the systems will be installed shortly.

“A major issue regarding water pollution is the presence of illegal and unauthorised small industries involved in dyeing, colouring of jeans, etc. They operate in small areas and are hard to find out. We undertake drives every now and then and will continue to close such units,” said an officer from the regional board.