Large industries to go green in a small way soon

Large industries in the State are being advised to install solar power systems for at least two per cent of their power consumption.

The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) will soon issue an advisory to this effect.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, environment minister B.V. Ramana said that common areas, kitchens and other areas could be lit through solar power. “This would take some pressure off the grid and help the companies to reduce their carbon footprints,” he said.

Similarly, the Board will also direct industries classified as highly-polluting or water-consuming to set up reverse osmosis plants for tertiary treatment of waste water being let out after being treated by effluent treatment plants or sewage treatment plants.

This would help reduce withdrawal of ground water. There are around 40,000 industries in the State. This would also be applicable to large apartments, hotels, IT companies and other high-rise structures. “We will make it mandatory in stages,” Mr. Ramana said.

The minister, speaking after a regional review meeting, said the Board had 34 district offices that looked after the processes of providing consent to establish and to operate to industries. The Board was presently looking at the number of industries being covered by each district office and if the number was too high, additional offices may be set up, he said.

Of the 233 highly-polluting industries in the State, he said, so far 97 industries had been connected to the Care Air Centre of the Board, which continuously monitors online the emission stacks of these industries. “We have set a deadline of December 2012 for the remaining industries to get into the system,” he said.