The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board for Prevention and Control of Water Pollution was constituted on 24-01-1976 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. After the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act 1981 came into force, the Board’s name was changed to Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board. Initially the Board was set up to implement the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The Board was subsequently given the responsibility of implementing a series of other environmental Acts and Rules.
The Board has been playing a catalytic role in implementing environmental policies, laws regulations and developing frameworks to manage both wastes and natural resources more efficiently. With its Head Office at Vijayawada, the Board covers the entire State through its 3 Zonal Offices at Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Kurnool headed by Joint Chief Environmental Engineer (JCEE) and 9 Regional Offices at Tirupati, Kurnool, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Eluru, Vijayawada, Guntur and Nellore each headed by Environmental Engineer (EE).
The Board has 3 Zonal Laboratories viz. Vijayawada, Kurnool and Visakhapatnam headed by Senior Environmental Scientist (SES). Each Zonal Laboratory undertakes continuous monitoring of the quality of air and water. The Board also has 5 Laboratories at Regional Office level i.e., Tirupati, Nellore, Eluru, Vizianagaram and Kakinada.
The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board is empowered to carry out its functions under the provisions of the following Pollution Control Acts, Rules and Amendments issued there under.
Objectives of APPCB
- Sustainable Development: - Sustainable development is a wide concept that balances the need for economic growth with environmental protection and social equity.
- Prevention: - To control the prevention of natural resources.
- Waste Management: - Effective Waste Management is a great source to protect the environment.
- Consumer awareness: - Pollution can be reduced by awareness such as by convincing general public to use CFL, paper bags, public transport and not to use firecrackers, plastic bags or any other non-biodegradable products.
- Compliance: - APPCB laid down some guidelines for industries and Health care establishment to reduce environment pollution in Andhra Pradesh.
Main Functions of the APPCB
- Provide recommendation to the Andhra Government on any matter concerning prevention and control of water and air pollution and improvement of the quality of air.
- Organize the consumer awareness programs on the prevention and control of air and water pollution and waste management through mass media.
- Collect, compile and prepare technical and statistical data related to air and water pollution.
- Lay down the standard of sewage and trade effluents and for emission from industrial plant, automobiles and Health Care Establishment.
- To help on the development of new technology for treatment of sewage, trade effluents and control equipment.
- Issuance of consent certificate to industries falling in different categories such as Red, Orange, Green and White.
- Issuance of the Authorization to industries and health care establishments, falling in Bio-Medical waste Authorization, Hazardous waste Management Authorization, Plastic Waste Management, Battery waste Management, and E-waste Authorization.
APPCB Categories & Classification of Business Activities
The industries in Andhra Pradesh has been classified in Red, Orange, and Green category as per the list, indicating the classification of 649 industries as per new guidelines.
The industries categorized under Red, Orange and Green category only need to apply for Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) under the Air & Water Act. The industries categorized under white category are not required to obtain Consent to establish and operate, it is required only to intimate Andhra Pradesh State Pollution Control Board within 30 days from Establishment of business with an undertaking.