Many reports and data suggest high pollution levels across the nation and have demonstrated concerns time and again. The Government realising need to intervene has strengthened regulations and have also spearheaded programs for public-private partnership (PPP), building a healthy model for community participation. Ajay Shroff, Managing Director, Marcuras Water Treatment (India) Pvt. Ltd discusses about the recent government push on regulations on pollution control.

 

What is the current scenario of pollution in India?

Various reports and studies have observed that only 70 per cent of India’s states treat less than half of their wastewater. An alarming 80 per cent of India’s surface water is polluted, a latest assessment by WaterAid, an international organisation working for water sanitation and hygiene, shows. Moreover, India recorded around 1.2 million deaths due to pollution in the year 2017.

 

Are recent regulatory reforms enough to control pollution in India?

Considering the regulations, the government has made it compulsory for all the new industries to setup a water treatment plant, especially listing down industry segments. Pharmaceuticals, chemicals, textile, steel and fabrication fall into heavily regulated industries. When their systems are audited regularly, pollution can be controlled. For companies like us, these regulations have towed demand to PCE sub segment. Till 2013, adoption of PCE was comparatively low. There has been an upward trend in adoption of pollution control equipments since 2015 after government started crackdown over manufacturing units. 

 

What are some sustainable technologies you offer?

At Marcuras, we offer, integration of water treatment and water management process. The total water flow in a plant is controlled by our systems. These systems measures effluent-level in water and routes it through the treatment unit. This system is capable to handle waters used for cooling and washing or for any other specific requirements. We can help set up an eco- friendly with zero-level discharge unit through a series of purification processes that includes effluent treatment plant, reverse osmosis plant and zero liquid discharge plant. Around 97 per cent water is purified and recycled for use for efficient water conservation and savings. Air scrubbers are installed for treating acid fumes for elimination of air pollution.

 

How industries can participate to bring down pollution levels?

The Government has funded more than 250 projects under National Mission for Clean Ganga to install treatment plants. There is a need for more public-private partnership (PPP) projects to flourish. Government should ideally launch yearly or tri-yearly contracts to companies and should lure companies to take those projects by allowing some benefits.  

 

Does India have ample technology to help control pollution?

With reference to water treatment India has been able to follow global standards but on the air treatment much core hi-tech technologies are imported. Importing air treatment technologies is also a big challenge as it incurs additional costs. Investing in locally-produced technology will be crucial. Indian companies offer extraordinary tailor made solutions. It can open a new line of business for tailor made solutions even for exports. We also serve OEMs of Middle East and Africa with the Indian market.

 

What role MSME plays asa contributor?

Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in every country helps growth and contributes to the overall GDP. Around 50 per cent of the solution providers are MSMEs. MSMEs have large field of play with many options. Any pollution control solution provider has to perform a special arrangement for companies they serve. Mostly these solutions are different from each other. Components like processing tank, FGDs, filteration systems, centrifugal systems and others are complex systems with higher number of components. MSMEs can start easily with these components. Thus, making this industry highly competitive.