Varsities can now inspect environment compliances

Visakhapatnam: As part of the Ease of Doing Business initiative, educational institutions could also now conduct environmental compliance inspection of industries as third parties. As per the recommendation of Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), the APPCB has already issued the work order to some selected universities in the state such as Andhra University, Acharya Nagarjuna University and Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University for this purpose with different jurisdiction. The inspection permit would remain valid for one year till May 31, 2017. Andhra University has had to form a body for such industry inspection comprising qualified and competent persons from relevant departments.

It can inspect medium risk industries falling in orange category, including dairy and dairy products, vegetable oil-manufacturing — processing units related to food, fruits, vegetable, seafood and coffee seed among others, located in Vizag, Vijayanagaram and Srikakulam. When asked whether the varsities would be competent enough to carry out the inspection, APPCB, Vizag Environmental Engineer R. Lakshmi Narayana said, “We don’t have any role in it. The board issued work permit to varsities in compliance with the Central government guidelines. The varsities have to ensure an able body for this project. We have to monitor it and see how things would take its course.”

The APPCB can cancel the work order of the third parties with one month’s notice. The board has given guidelines to third parties for collecting samples of effluent at inlet and outlet of Effluent Treatment Plant and stack emission as required for verification and how to carry their analysis. The board has even sought Expression of Interest (EoI) from universities which are willing to conduct inspection of highly polluting (Red category) industries. Based on their bidding, the educational institutions would be selected for inspection of these red industries.