The growing urbanization and industrialization leading to the ever-rising pollution started posing challenges before Central Pollution Control Board. To meet the uphill task of effective pollution controlled CPCB to set-up its Zonal Offices in various Zones of the country during late nineties. The South Zonal Office, Bangalore was accordingly established in October 1988 with jurisdiction of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andra Pradesh & Goa, Pondicherry and Lakshadweep covering a total area 639474 Sq km and vast coastal stretch of 3025 km.
The office presently has around 30 officials as its staff strength including Scientific, technical and supporting administrative staff.
The office has a mobile laboratory which enables to perform analysis of immediate parameters in the field itself and thus facilitates thorough monitoring and analysis.
The Laboratory is recognized under EPA, 1986 and is currently under the process of obtaining NABL accreditation.
CPCB South Zonal Office is primarily entrusted with the responsibility of co-ordination with all concerned State Pollution Control Boards as well as other organizations engaged in Pollution Control Activities.
The major activities can be listed as below:
• Monitoring of centrally sponsored projects like
National Ambient Air Monitoring,
Global Environmental Monitoring &
Monitoring of National Aquatic Resources, facilities created under National River Action Plan etc.
• The office directly takes up monitoring of aquatic resources like rivers, lakes, ground water and coastal waters leading to preparation of action plans for pollution mitigation.
• Preparation of Environmental status report for various cities in the zone.
• Monitoring & review of critically polluted (Problem) areas.
• Monitoring of common facilities like Common Effluent Treatment Plants, Sewage Treatment Plants, Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facilities & TSDF for Hazardous Waste etc.
• Environmental Surveillance activities like surprise inspection of industries on random basis, investigation of VIP complaints and joint monitoring with MoEF for the projects cleared under EIA.
• Follow-up of court directives.
• Associating with various committees appointed by state governments or honorable courts.
• Additionally, this office also provides platform for research students to get exposed to new technologies by involving them in various innovative projects like low cost wastewater treatment, E-Waste Characterization, Bio-monitoring of Lakes in Bangalore City, Impact of immersion of Ganesha Idol in Bangalore lakes etc.
