The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), along with the department of civil engineering, Bangalore Institute of Technology (BIT), is planning to build a pool of hazardous materials management professionals from foreign countries and India who will tie up to bring about technological changes in waste management in India.
The KSPCB along with BIT’s department of civil engineering will organise a seminar on waste minimisation, treatment, recovery, risk and hazard management and best practices in pharmaceutical and electroplating industries, solvent recycling and lead acid battery processing units and common effluent treatment plants on July 27.
The board will also hold a three-day training programme on hazardous materials management by US experts on July 29 and 30. “The idea is to build a pool of hazardous materials management professionals,” said KSPCB chairman A Sadashiviah.
“After the workshop, experts from the west will tie up with local companies to exchange ideas on waste management and hazardous waste treatment. They will also help understand the latest trends in waste management,” he said.
Dr BS Jai Prakash, vice president, Academy of Certified Hazardous Material Managers told reporters: “Prevention is better than cure. Waste minimisation is of prime importance in chemical industries, especially when the country is gearing up for high industrial growth.”
The programme will aim at bringing Western waste management practices to India. Sadashiviah said: “The Shimoga Environment Research Centre’s awards for environmentally friendly practices, which were supported by KSPCB, were extended to all schools in Kolar and Chikkaballapur in 2010-11. Following the success of the programme, the board has decided to include all 30 districts in the state in the programme this year.”
The KSPCB decided to arrange the function after noticing that the highest pollution is caused by chemical industries and realising the need for technologies to treat the effluents let out by these industries.
