On November 05, 2021, the Environment, Forests, Science and Technology Department, Andhra Pradesh has issued the amendment in the Andhra Pradesh Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules, 1976.
Key Amendments:
- In Rule 2(l), (m) & (n) which specifies “Annual Compliance Statement”, “Environment Quality Assessment Auditor” and “Environment Statement” has been inserted.
“Annual Compliance Statement“: means a statement to be submitted by all persons or occupiers carrying on any industry, factory, mine, operation or process and all other activities, which requires consent Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 or any other Acts, Rules and Notifications where the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board is the prescribed authority, including the compliance status of the conditions imposed in the consent for establishment, consent for operation, Authorizations; the compliance status on the directions issued by the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board; and an overall assessment of the water quality, both within the premises and outside the premises in the surroundings.
“Environment Quality Assessment Auditor” : means a person or agency or organisation empanelled and notified by the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board for the purposes of Environmental Quality Assessment.
“Environmental Statement” means a statement to be submitted by every person carrying on any industry, operation, or process requiring consent under Section 25 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 to the concerned State Pollution Control Board on or before 30th September every year, as per Rule 14 of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986.
- In Rule 33(A), (B), (C) and (D) which specifies “Submission of Annual Compliance Statement”, “Verification of Annual Compliance Statement and Environment Statement”, “Submission of Audited Annual Compliance Statement” and “Empanelment of Environment Quality Assessment Auditor”, has been inserted.
- In Rule 38 which specifies “Environmental Compensation”, has been inserted which provides that whoever violates the provisions of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Rules framed thereunder shall be liable to pay Environmental Compensation as determined by the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board in compliance of the orders of National Green Tribunal.
- In Rule 39 which specifies “Online Monitoring”, has been inserted which provides that the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board may direct any person or occupier on any industry, factory, mine, operation or process to (i) install online continuous effluent: quality monitoring systems; and (ii) transmit monitoring data online real time to centralised monitoring stations at the Head/Zonal/ Regional Offices of the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board.
- In Rule 38 which specifies “Scientific Waste Disposal”, has been inserted which provides that every person or occupier carrying on any industry, factory, mine, operation or process and all other activities which requires consent under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 shall ensure adequate treatment of waste and ensure scientific disposal of trade effluent, hazardous and other wastes through authorised agencies, as notified by Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board to enable continuous waste disposal monitoring.