About TNPCB :-

The Tamilnadu Prevention and Control of Water Pollution Board was constituted by the Government of Tamilnadu on twenty seventh day of February, Nineteen eighty two (27-2-1982) in pursuance of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 (Central Act 6 of 1974). The Board was later renamed as Tamilnadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) in the year 1983. It enforces the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the rules made under these Acts, which includes.

• The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
• The Tamilnadu Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules, 1983.
• The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
• The Tamilnadu Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules, 1983.
• The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
• The Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986
• Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989
• Fly Ash Utilization Notification 1999
• The Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001
• The Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006
• The Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016
• The Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016
• The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016
• The Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016
• The E-Waste Management Rules, 2016
• The Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016

Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), was established on 27.2.1982. It functions with Head Office at Chennai, 8 Zonal offices and 38 District offices. The Board office is headed by the Chairman, Zonal offices are headed by the Joint Chief Environmental Engineers, 38 District offices are headed by District Environmental Engineers, and the 3 AEE offices are headed by Assistant Environmental Engineers. Five flying squads are also functioning at Chennai,Erode,Salem,Tiruppur and Vellore which are headed by the Environmental Engineers.

To assist in the Analytical and Scientific side, the Board has established 8 Advanced Environmental Laboratories, 8 District Environmental Laboratories.

TNPCB is implementing the Pollution Control Legislations and Rules and Notifications framed therein. In discharging the duties entrusted to it, the Board investigates, collects and disseminates data relating to water, air and land pollution, lays down standards for sewage/trade effluent and emissions.

TNPCB issues consent to new industries in two stages. Consent to establish is issued depending upon the suitability of the site before the industry takes up the construction activities and consent to operate is issued after installation of pollution control measures by the unit to satisfy the standards.

The field officers of the Board periodically inspect every industry under their jurisdiction to assess the adequacy of treatment measures provided to treat the effluent and gaseous emission. Board has classified the industries as per their pollution load for effective monitoring as follows:

MONITORING PERIODICITY FOR INSPECTION AND SAMPLING

TNPCB issues show cause notices , takes legal actions and also issues directions for closure, stoppage of power supply, water supply etc., against erring industries / agencies for non-compliance of pollution control legislations, conditions and standards.

TNPCB has delegated the power to the field officers for close monitoring. The Joint Chief Environmental Engineer/ District Environmental Engineers are empowered to issue/renew consent to orange and green category industries and for red small category industries. They are also empowered to issue show cause notices to all the industries.

TNPCB plays a catalytic role in the implementation of Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETPs) for small scale units like tanneries, textile dyeing units etc., located in clusters.

TNPCB is taking effective steps for safe disposal of hazardous wastes and has completed the inventory of hazardous waste generating units and also identified sites for disposal of hazardous wastes.

TNPCB creates environmental awareness in the State through the Environmental Training Institute , Environmental Awareness Cell, Environmental Awareness Programme, etc.