The State Board for Prevention and Control of Water Pollution, Meghalaya was constituted by the Government of Meghalaya on the 16 November,1983 in pursuance of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. After the enactment of the Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 the enforcing responsibility of the Act was entrusted to the Board. The Board was later renamed as Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board in 1988. The functions of the Board are as laid down under Section 17 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Section 17 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
Besides the enforcement of the Water Act and the Air Act, the Board is also enforcing the following Acts, Rules and Notifications: -
- The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977 and as amended by Amendment Act in 1991.
- The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Rules, 1978.
- The Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1989.
- The Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989.
- The Manufacture, Use, Import, Export & Storage of Hazardous Microorganism or Cells Rules, 1989.
- The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991.
- The Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 1994.
- The Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning, Preparedness & Response) Rules, 1996.
- The Bio-Medical Wastes (Management & Handling) Rules, 1998
- The Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules, 1999.
- The Fly Ash Notification, 1999.
- The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000.
- The Ozone Depleting substances (Regulation) Rules, 2000.
- The Municipal Solid Wastes (Management & Handling) Rules, 2000.
- The Batteries (Management & Handling) Rules 2001.
The Central Office of the Board is located in Shillong. At present, the Board does not have any Regional or District Offices. The Central Office is responsible for framing general policies relating to enforcement of the Acts and Rules. It also looks after the general administration and coordination with other agencies. Besides, it takes up public awareness programs on matters relating to environment protection and pollution control. The Central Laboratory is well equipped and carries out analysis of samples of water, wastewater, stack emission, ambient air, bacteriological tests, etc.
Activities under Water and Air Acts:
- Assessment and monitoring the quality of water and wastewater.
- Assessment and monitoring the quality of ambient air and stack emissions.
- Inspection of sites proposed for setting up of industries to verify the suitability of the same from environmental point of view.
- Water bodies monitoring under National Water Quality Monitoring (NWQM) Program.
- Ambient air quality monitoring under National Air Monitoring program (NAMP).
- Offering guidance to industries and local bodies on statutory provisions.
- Issue of “Consents to Establish” and “Consents to Operate” in respects of industries, mining projects specified developmental projects and municipal bodies.
- Inspection of industries and local bodies.
Objectives of MSPCB
- 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: - MSPCB laid down some guidelines for industries and Health care establishment to reduce environment pollution in Meghalaya.
Main Functions of the MSPCB
- Provide recommendation to the Meghalaya 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.
MSPCB Categories & Classification of Business Activities
The industries in Goa 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 Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board within 30 days from Establishment of business with an undertaking.