[UPPSC-UP Special Syllabus Decoded] Pollution and Environmental Issues in UP, Pollution Control Board and its functions

1. Pollution and Environmental Issues in Uttar Pradesh

Trend: Shift from “General Pollution” to “Airshed Management,” “River Rejuvenation,” and “Circular Economy.”

A. Air Pollution (The “Airshed” Challenge)

• Primary Sources: Vehicular emission in NCR (Noida/Ghaziabad), Industrial emissions (Kanpur/Firozabad), Construction dust, and Stubble burning (Parali) in Western UP.
• Micro-Climatic Issues: The “Urban Heat Island” effect in Lucknow and Varanasi due to rapid concreting.
• Policy Intervention:
  • NCAP (National Clean Air Programme): 17 Non-Attainment Cities in UP (including Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi).
  • Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): Implementation in NCR districts during winter smog.

B. Water Pollution (Riverine & Groundwater)

• River Systems:
  • Ganga & Yamuna: Critical stretch from Kannauj to Varanasi (Ganga) and Mathura to Agra (Yamuna) due to industrial effluent (Tannery/Textile) and untreated sewage.
  • Tributaries: Pollution in Kali, Hindon, and Gomti rivers.
• Groundwater: Fluoride contamination in Unnao/Agra and Arsenic in the Eastern UP (Terai) belt.

C. Solid & Emerging Waste Management

• Plastic Waste: UP is one of the largest generators; challenge of Single-Use Plastic (SUP) ban enforcement in religious tourism centers (Ayodhya/Varanasi).
• Legacy Waste: Bio-mining of legacy waste at dump sites like Ghaila (Lucknow).
• E-Waste: Rising hub in Noida/Greater Noida (Electronics manufacturing cluster) requiring scientific recycling.

Current Affairs Linkage :

• UP Clean Air Management Project (UPCAMP): In late 2024, UP launched this World Bank-aided project to establish 193 new monitoring stations and adopt an “Airshed Approach” (treating air as a common resource across districts).
• Maha Kumbh 2025 (Green Kumbh): Despite the “Green Kumbh” pledge, CPCB reports in Jan 2025 indicated high Faecal Coliform levels at Sangam, highlighting the gap between infrastructure (STPs) and peak load management.

2. Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB)

Trend: Focus on “Digital Governance” and “Real-time Monitoring.”

A. Constitution & Mandate

• Legal Basis: Statutory body constituted under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; also implements the Air Act, 1981 and Environment Protection Act, 1986.
• Structure: Headquartered in Lucknow with 28+ Regional Offices.

B. Key Functions

• Regulatory: Granting “Consent to Establish” (CTE) and “Consent to Operate” (CTO) to industries (Red, Orange, Green, White categories).
• Monitoring:
  • Ambient Air Quality: Operating Manual and CAAQMS stations.
  • Water Quality: Monthly monitoring of rivers under NWMP (National Water Monitoring Programme).
• Enforcement: Issuing closure notices to non-compliant units (e.g., closing illegal tanneries in Jajmau, Kanpur).
• Advisory: Advising the State Government on siting of industries and climate action.

C. Modernization (Digital Initiatives)

• Nivesh Mitra Integration: Online, transparent issuance of NOCs and Consents to improve Ease of Doing Business.
• OCEMS (Online Continuous Emission/Effluent Monitoring Systems): Mandatory for highly polluting industries (17 categories) to transmit real-time data to UPPCB servers.

3. Strategic Environmental Initiatives

Trend: “Climate Action Plans” and “Disaster Resilience.”

A. Climate Change Action Plan

• State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC): Revision aligned with India’s “Panchamrit” goals (Net Zero by 2070).
• Heatwave Action Plan 2024:
  • Objective: Zero heat-stroke deaths.
  • Measures: “Cool Roof” pilots in government buildings and adjustment of working hours in Bundelkhand.

B. River & Wetland Rejuvenation

• Namami Gange: Construction of STPs (Sewage Treatment Plants) has increased treatment capacity, with UPPCB reporting a ~70% improvement in river water quality at monitored locations in 2024 vs 2023.
• Wetland Conservation: Protection of 10 Ramsar Sites (e.g., Haiderpur, Bakhira) and identifying new wetlands under the Amrit Dharohar scheme.

C. Plastic Waste Management

• Digital Tracking: Introduction of a portal for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) registration of brand owners.
• Circular Economy: Promoting the use of plastic waste in road construction (PWD initiative) and cement kilns (co-processing).