Utilise technologies to improve environment: Sucherla

Hyderabad, April 22 : “Utilize the latest technologies for the improvement of the environment and to serve the mankind, sustainable development is only possible with the protection of the environment i.e., our mother earth and the Pollution Control Boards need to undertake this responsibility and discharge their duties accordingly” said Environment Minister Sucherla Vijaya Rama Raju while inaugurating the six day technical training programme on “Use of Modern Tools to Identify the Legacy sites and Innovative Remediation Technologies for contaminated sites” which coincides with the Earth Day here on Monday.

Explaining the objective of the program in her key note address Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board chairman Janaki Kondapi said that the present world bank project aims at building tangible human and technical capacity in the two selected state agencies (Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal) for undertaking environmentally sound remediation of polluted sites.

The need of the training to the state pollution control boards emerges from the absence of expertise in remediation works among the Boards said Sanjay Kumar Member Secretary APPCB. He said this training helps the scientific and technical personnel of state pollution control boards to enhance their knowledge in identifying contaminated sites and in implementation of suitable remedial options. Further, explaining about the CBIPM Project in Andhra Pradesh, he informed that the works for the two pilot sites are under progress. The pilot sites are: 1. Noor Mohammad Kunta–Kattedan Industrial Estate (NMK-KIE): Area based remediation. 2. Municipal Solid Waste Dump site – Ukkayapalli, Kadapa: Closure and Containment of dump site. The remedial options for both the sites are under finalization. Once the options are finalized the remedial works will start.

This training programme is being organized by Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) under ongoing Capacity Building Industrial Pollution Management Project (CBIPMP) from 22nd to 27th of April for the technical and scientific personnel of Ministry for Environment and Forest (MoEF), Government of India (GoI), Central and State Pollution Control Boards (CPCB & SPCB). Representative from 12 States, Central Pollution Control Board are participating in the training programme held at Daspalla Hotel, Hyderabad.

The experts from State Department of Environment, US, European agencies, South Asia apart from Indian experts were chosen to participate in the deliberations on ‘Identification of legacy sites and innovative remediation technologies for contaminated sites. INN