The Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA) on August 11, 2023, published the Environment (Protection) Second Amendment Rules, 2023 to further amend the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
These Rules shall come into force on November 17, 2023.
The following has been amended namely: -
• In Schedule-I, after serial number 115 and the entries relating thereto, the following serial number and entries shall be inserted, namely: -
“116 Hot Mix Plant - Particulate Matter Concentration (mg/Nm3) in stack emission"
• The following notes have been added namely: -
(i) The minimum stack height for Hot Mix Plant shall be calculated as Stack height (Hs) = 14(Q)0.3, where, Q is the SO2 emission rate in kg/hr.
(ii) Only approved fuel as specified by State Pollution Control Boards or Pollution Control Committees shall be used.
(iii) Dust emission from material handling shall be contained with water sprinkling or by covering the points of dust emission.
(iv) The internal roads, working platforms, and loading and unloading areas in the premises should be paved and kept clean at all times.
(v) Provisions of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 shall be followed and workers shall be provided with personal protective equipment.
(vi) The green belt shall be developed along the periphery.
(vii) Use of Recycled Asphalt Pavement (RSP) shall be allowed in the aggregates.
(viii) Any process rejects or leftovers of the hot mix shall be recycled in the process
(ix) The site shall be reinstated at the end of the operation phase i.e. after dismantling the plant.
(x) State Pollution Control Boards or Pollution Control Committees may decide the size and capacity to permit hot mix plants based on available technology and prevailing environmental conditions.
(xi) The Hot Mix Plant shall be installed from the following siting criteria, namely: -
(a) 1 km from the boundary of cities and towns
(b) 0.5 km from habitation
(c) 0.2 km from National or State Highways (from Centre Line)
(d) 0.5 km from Schools or Colleges and temples
(e) 1 km from the Hospital, court, and tourist spot.
(xii) In case existing hot mix plants are not able to meet the above siting criteria at para (xi) above, the unit may be allowed with the condition that a minimum 6-meter-high compound wall of GI sheets along the plot periphery shall be installed.
(xiii)The hot mix plant shall be equipped with appropriate air pollution control devices as mentioned below so as to ensure optimum efficiency to achieve the standards, namely: -
(a) Drum Type: Cyclone or multi-clones with wet scrubber
(b) Batch Type: Multi-clones with bag filters
[Notification No. WB/G-295/21-22/282]
