Introduction to Environment Audit Scheme In Gujarat Dr. K U Mistry CHAIRMAN Gandhinagar

1. Introduction to Environment Audit Scheme In Gujarat Dr. K U Mistry CHAIRMAN Gandhinagar

2. History & Background • Gujarat is one of the most industrialized states of India • The Golden Corridor from Mehsana to Vapi houses no. of industries and industrial estates • Products like pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, bulk drugs, textile, pesticides, several organic and inorganic chemicals & engineering items being manufactured

3. The GIDC estates at Naroda, Odhav & Vatva in Ahmedabad also amongst the golden corridor are situated on the eastern side of the Ahmedabad city • The industrial effluent generated from these industries was earlier being discharged through open kachha drain in the estates leading finally into the khari cut canal passing nearby

4. PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION • Shri P. J. Patel and other farmers of villages like Navagam, Lali, etc. near Ahmedabad filed a PIL in Gujarat High Court for compensation for possible damage to their crop / land due to the discharge of industrial effluent from industries situated done by the industrial effluent of Naroda, Vatwa and Odhav in Ahmedabad

5. Roots of Environmental Audit Scheme • During hearing of the PIL, the Hon. Court felt that the statutory authorities were not able to regularly monitor thousands of industries scattered over the entire state due to the shortage of man-power and infrastructure

6. ENVIRONMENT AUDIT SCHEME • Environment Audit is a management tool comprising of a systematic, documented, periodic and objective evaluation of how well the management system is performing in context with • Waste prevention and reduction • Assessing compliance with regulatory requirements • Facilitating control of environmental practices by a company management and placing environmental information in public domain

7. Objective of Scheme The Scheme was introduced with a view to: • Enforcing Discipline amongst the industries. • Arming GPCB as well as the association of Industries in the concerned areas with the necessary information and • Doing regular monitoring of different industries scattered in the entire state of Gujarat with a perceptive of Environmental protection @ sustainable development

8. Applicability of the Scheme • This Scheme shall apply to all the Industrial Units manufacturing and/or processing any one or more the products mentioned in Schedule I and/or schedule II to this scheme and situated in the state of Gujarat • All common facilities i.e. CETPs/TSDFs/Common Incinerators/CBWTF etc. of the state • All other industries manufacturing products which are included by the Board in Sch I and/or Sch II as per annexure C

9. SALIENT FEATURES OF EA SCHEME • Qualified technical professionals would become a link between the individual industries on one hand and GPCB and other public authorities as well as associations of industries on the other hand with vital elements of accountability and transparency • Scheme classified industries in to two schedules (I & II) according to their pollution potential • Industries with more pollution potential classified in schedule I

10. SALIENT FEATURES OF EA SCHEME Total 04 orders(20/12/1996,13/03/1997,16/09/1999/ 22/04/2010 have been passed by the Gujarat High Court • As per the final order, The scheme should not only be restricted to the State of Gujarat but can also be adopted by other states across the country to acquire the benefit of the scheme for compliance with environmental laws and meeting the environmental challenges. Thus benefits gained through implementation of this scheme can be taken advantage of, for sustainable development in the country.

11. Eligibility Criteria for an Auditor • Internal Auditors must have at least 4 members • Each team of auditors shall comprise of • A person possessing; a degree in Environmental Engineering or a degree in Civil Engineering with specialization in Environmental engineering • A person possessing a degree in Chemical Engineering/Technology • A person possessing a degree in Chemistry or Environmental Science • A person possessing a degree in Micro Biology/Bio-Chemistry

12. GPCB’S RESPONSE • GPCB constituted a technical committee consisting of experts from NIOH, CPCB, Academics, Government and other institutes • Before recognizing the auditors; the committee ascertains the papers / certificate of each team member of the auditor, evaluates their performance during personal interview and visits personally the laboratory of the auditor to check the compliance of Hon. Court directions for manpower and laboratory requirements

13. ROLE OF THE AUDITOR The auditors prepare Environmental Audit Reports of different industries falling in Schedule-I & II of the Hon. Court’s Order; in a prescribed format

14. CLASSIFICATION • Industries are classified in Schedule-I & II as per the pollution potential • Highly polluting industries with manufacturing products like H-acid, V-acid, K-acid, Vinyl Sulphone etc. are placed in Schedule-I • Industries having less pollution potential are placed in Schedule-II

15. SCHEDULE –I(To Environmental Audit Scheme as per the H.H.C order dt.20/12/1996 and modified vide its order dtd. 13/03/1997)

16. SCHEDULE – II

17. FREQUENCY OF EARs • The industries falling in Schedule I & II (except CETPs and TSDFs) need to submit one Environmental Audit Report/year • CETPs / TSDFs need to submit two EA Reports / year

18. EAS and E(P)Act • Environment Audit scheme as such is a modification of the Rule (1A) of the Environment (Protection) Rule 86 • Principle of ‘polluter pays’ is incorporated in the scheme • Qualification and experience of team members (minimum four persons) were fixed • Consequences of failure to file audit report : Para 10-A i.e. Closure of the unit

19. Other Provisions • If the EAR says that industry is noncompliant with reference to NOC/consent condition, the fact shall be placed before the court • If the EAR is incorrect, the industry shall be subject to directions including the closure • If an Auditor submits incorrect data in EAR, auditor shall be de-recognized • the GPCB is empowered to issue directions for closure to the unit if it fails to submit the EARs

20. How EA Scheme has helped the GPCB • Regular monitoring of the common facilities and polluting industries • ensuring compliance with reference to pollution control acts and rules • Adequacy of the common facilities and polluting industries is checked • Improved environmental quality

21. Purpose of Environmental Audit To determine if the Environmental Audit : • Meets the intent of EMS / ISO 14001 / IMS • Conforms to planned arrangements • Is properly implemented • Is properly maintained

22. Auditors Vs Industries Covered • University / Educational Institutes / College etc. were considered as Schedule-I auditors and rest were considered as Schedule-II auditors. • Total No. of Common facilities and industries covered under EAS are • Schedule I : 0384 • Schedule II : 0950 • Total : 1334 • Total Nos of Auditors • Schedule I : 25 (Team: 30) • Schedule II : 56 (Team: 89)

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