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CPCB notifies contaminated sites
Why in news?
- There are 128 sites in India contaminated by toxic and hazardous substances, according to a March update by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
- West Bengal led the list with 27 sites followed by Odisha at 23. Including those, there are 324 sites that may be contaminated, with 196 still awaiting an investigation and confirmation.
- These incidents include oil contamination due to leakage of underground oil pipelines of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited in Tamil Nadu, pesticide and heavy metal contamination in creeks at Eloor, Kerala, chromium contamination at Rania, improperly disposed electronic waste lying on the banks of river Ramganga, Moradabad and mercury contamination of the soil at Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, and Ganjam, Odisha
More in news
- About Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB):
(1) It is a statutory organisation under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Mo.E.F.C).
(2) It was established in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of pollution) Act, 1974.
(3) The CPCB is also entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
(4) It serves as a field formation and also provides technical services to the MoEFCC under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
(5) It is the apex organisation in the field of pollution control, as a technical wing of MoEFCC.
(6) The board is led by its Chairperson, who is generally a career civil servant from the Indian Administrative Service appointed by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
Sources
The Hindu