Background:
It is heartening to note that Zonal Office Kolkata of Central Pollution Control Board has completed its more than 25 years of existence. Taking stock of its achievements over three decades, this office has faced many challenging issues in the environmental sector and will remain in future activities to promote the protection, management and enhancement of the environment. However, much remains to be done. Today, our region faces the challenges of rapid economic growth coupled with an ever increasing population, which has a strong impact on the environment. Uncontrolled Urbanisation and the changing lifestyles of this population have led to an aggravated problem of Waste Management. This office has successfully implemented a number of programmes and projects in a variety of areas, including air and water pollution, protection and management of the coastal environment and environmental legislations. We need to put our best efforts to make our endeavor for the protection of environment from further degradation. We have successfully defined our position by the side of nature and we will create our existence into a memorable one.
Chronological Development
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) established its East North East Regional Office in Calcutta in September 1983 in a building of the Calcutta Improvement Trust (CIT) located in rented space of 2156 sq.ft at 61 Prince Anwar Shah Road, Kolkata – 700 033. It was started and continued as a very small establishment, with only 5 or 6 staff till 1986. By that time the need for a larger establishment alongwith well equipped analytical laboratories (both stationery and mobile) of moderate sophistication became very much pressing to cater for the Central Pollution Control Board’s functional requirements in the 11 Eastern and North Eastern States of the Country viz. Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Sikkim, Tripura, West Bengal and the Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands (functions now handed over to the Union Territory Administration). This expansion of the CPCB’s Calcutta office was necessary in light of the increasing work load created by Ganga Action Plan and also with the enactment of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
The Zonal laboratory of Kolkata office was the first laboratory set-ups of CPCB among the Zonal offices and was upgraded later with the support under GTZ project. It was specially designed to measure micropollutants in air, soil, water and marine waters. This laboratory has gradually increased its capability to analyze more number of parameters every year and especially the air-related analysis have increased in the past.
What has given a boost to the CPCB’s eastern regional wing is that the department of Ocean Development of the Union Government entrusted this regional office with the responsibility of monitoring the quality of off-shore water along the entire east coast of the country. CPCB played a key role in this off-shore water study and the laboratory was extensively used in DOD's COMAPS project and sophisticated equipment like AAS, GC, TOC etc. were installed and being operated.
Mobile Laboratory ”SHODHAN” was constructed and commissioned on January 14, 1988.
The Chairman has communicated to Ministry about the proposal of CPCB to purchase office premises through Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority at estimated total cost of Rs. 3.5 crores including cost of registration, parking. Accordingly the new office-cum-laboratory at 5th and 6th floor of Southend Conclave was procured from KMDA on 10.03.2005. The refurbishing work of office cum laboratory was assigned CPWD. The office and laboratory shifted to new office premises in the beginning of 2008.
Jurisdiction :
The following states come under the jurisdiction of Eastern Zonal Office Kolkata :
1. West Bengal
2. Bihar
3. Orissa
4. Jharkhand
5. Andaman & Nicobar Island
Important Industries covered :(2003 onwards……)
WEST BENGAL :
Chemical Industries
Oil Industries
Thermal Power Plant
Steel Plant
Sponge Iron Industries
Leather Complex
Tea gardens
BIHAR
Sugar Industries
Distillery units
Oil refinery
ORISSA
Chemical Industries
Power Plants
Paper Mills
Steel Plant
Sponge iron industries
Cement industries
Mining etc.
JHARKHAND
Thermal Power Stations
Coal Mining
Steel Plants
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