Indian Initiatives in Remediation of Contaminated Sites

– Issues and Challenges

A. S. Harinath

Senior Environmental Specialist

The World Bank

Wastech International Summit &Expo

November 21-22, 2014

The Debate on Contaminated Sites

� Began in 1997 with the Petition in the Supreme Court of India on Hazardous Waste Management

� An inventory of illegal dumping of hazardous wastes prepared in 2003, based on SC directive

� CPCB inventory varied from 412 (2003) to 141 (2006) to a current list of 74 sites (2012)

� 417 sites as per Black Smith Institute, US

� EU Study Estimates 36,165 Sites

Waste Management Scenario* in India

� Hazardous Waste � 76 lakh tons / annum

� 28 TSDF facilities - 16 lakh tons capacity

� Electronic Waste � 8 lakh tons / annum

� 2 lakh tons/annum disposed by 67 recycling facilities(23 authorized)

� Bio Medical Waste � 1.50 lakh tons/ annum

� 188 CBWTF facilities-1 lakh ton capacity

� Municipal Solid Waste � 4377 cities generate about 570 lakh tons

per annum

� 9% of the waste is processed and 1% scientifically disposed in 350 disposal facilities

* CPCB Estimates to Sub-Group on Environment for 12th Five Year Plan

The Disposal Practices

� Municipal Solid Waste Sites

� Lakes and Water bodies

� Open and / or Low lying areas

� Abandoned industrial units (brown field sites)

� Fill material for Industrial and Residential Projects

� Other construction projects such as highways, etc.

Typical Contaminants

� Chromium– Hexavalent &Trivalent

� Heavy Metals

� Mercury

� Inorganic Salts

� HCH

� POPs and Pesticides

Environmental Impacts of Contaminated Sites

� Surface Water Pollution

� Soil Contamination

� Ground Water Pollution

� Impacts on Agriculture

� Health Impacts – Human and domestic animals

� Impacts on Flora and Fauna – Aquatic and Terrestrial

International Experience

United States of America

� Remediation Guided by Comprehensive Environmental Response and Liability Act, 1980(amended as SARA,1986)

� Comprises 5 stage process from listing to remediation

� Provides federal superfund for remediaiton

� Identified 1300 priority sites& implemented remediation

Europe

� About 250,000 sites for clean -up

� Guided by Soil Framework Directive and ELD

� Remediation Activities are based on ‘Pollutor Pays Principle’

� A large portion remediation costs are born by the private Sector

International Experience

Canada

� Contaminated Site Remediation Framework by EC

� Classifies sites into 5 classes and follows 6 stage remediation approach

� Follows Soil and Sediment Guidelines

� General tax revenues of GOC finance clean up costs

� Defines liabilities for polluters, lenders, municipalities,etc.

China

� Policy still emerging

� Set 2015 as target for development of Systems and Polices

� Soil Pollution Law in draft stages

� National Survey on Soil&Pollution Prevention is prepared

� Technical Assistance Program on Brown Field Remediation and Redevelopment with The World Bank

Key Issues and Challenges for India

� No Soil Standards in the Country

� No Policy / regulations on contaminated site management - Guided by Hazardous Waste Rules and EPA Act

� Weak liability clauses and land development policies

� Inadequate Capacity and infrastructure for with institutions

Remediation Programs In India

� Capacity Building for Industrial Pollution Management Project (2010-15) � US $ 64 million US $ 54 million

� Learning by Doing Approach

� Four Remediation Pilots

� NMK Lake in Hyderabad – cocktail of industrial discharges

� Hooghly Industrial Area, Kolkata – Chrome Contaminated over 15 kms

� Closure and Containment of Municipal Dump Sites in Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh and Dhapa, Kadapa

� Upgradation Laboratories for Hazardous Waste Sampling & Monitoring

� Setting Up Environmental Compliance Assistance Centers, and

� Development of National Policy on Remediation of Polluted Sites

� Remediation Projects for 10 Priority Sites (under NCEF) by CPCB

Remediation Programs In India

Remediation Programs In India

� National Policy of Remediation of Polluted Sites � Preparation of National Inventory of Probably Contaminated Sites

� Defines Polluted Sites

� Develops a dynamic inventory of Polluted Sites

� Provides Site inspection and monitoring protocol

� Development of Approaches and Methodologies for Remediation

� Structured 14 step process for identification, assessment, remediation and monitoring polluted sites

� Categorizes initial list of polluted sites based on nature and type pollution

� Provides options and standards for remediation

� Specific Guidance Manual for Remediation Process

� Policy, Institutional and Implementation Plan for NPRPS

� Identifies Policy and Regulatory changes

� Institutional Structure and

� Implementation Plan for roll out of NPRPS

Implementation and Results

� Remediation Plans Developed for Pilots

� Implementation in One Pilot Just Commenced

� Draft NPRPS Documents in the final stages

� Training and Capacity Building underway

� Next Steps : Stake Holder Consultation and finalization

Thank you for your attention!