Online Training Programme on:
Real-Time Air Pollution Monitoring - CEMS & CAAQMS
28 July – 1 August, 2020
Organised by iFOREST in association with Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB)
Background of the programme:
Real-time pollution monitoring is a regulatory requirement for industries to monitor the pollution and report data online to the regulators. Initiated by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2014, the system demands industries to install Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) for stack emission, Continuous Effluent Quality Monitoring System (CEQMS) for effluent and Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) for ambient air quality monitoring. Proper implementation of real-time monitoring demands all the practitioners to have sufficient knowledge of the technology, quality, installation, operation and maintenance and data handling along with a clear understanding of the regulatory guidelines. Absence of adequate knowledge of the subject has resulted in numerous challenges leading towards poor data quality and various non-compliances in the industries. For the pollution control boards, lack of proper implementation affects the regulatory work. Real-time monitoring is soon going to become a legal requirement for compliance assurance, it is therefore essential for different stakeholders including the regulators to be adequately trained on all aspects of the real-time monitoring systems. Keeping this in mind, the International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology (iFOREST) conceptualized an innovative online training programme on “Real-time Air Pollution Monitoring – CEMS & CAAQMS” for the regulatory bodies.
Brief about the programme:
The programme had been designed keeping in mind the requirements of beginners as well as advanced learners and with the ongoing situation of COVID19 in the country which allows active learning & knowledge sharing with the flexibility of time duration to ensure that officials can manage both training and their work together.
The programme focused on the air emission aspect and included the following:
- PM and Gaseous CEMS technology, suitability and limitations
- Correct installation, operation and maintenance procedure
- CEMS guideline, compliance practice, best practices
- Quality assurance and quality control requirement
- CAAQMS technology, suitability and use
- Data acquisition, handling and analysis
- Self-assessment and inspection
The programme was inaugurated by Mr Chandra Bhushan, CEO, iFOREST and Dr K Murugesan, Member Secretary, Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB). During the inaugural session itself Dr Murugesan briefed the participants about the expectation of the administration in conducting such a programme. He also appreciated iFOREST for the design of the programme which covered all aspects related to real-time air pollution monitoring. Mr Chandra Bhushan explained the importance of the real-time monitoring and the programme for the regulators.
During the five-days of the training programme, technical sessions on different aspects such as Gaseous CEMS, PM-CEMS, Manual monitoring, CEMS guidelines, Data acquisition and handling, CAAQMS, etc. were presented and discussed. It was ensured after each session that a discussion on the issues faced on-ground by the officials is done and clarified. Both the experienced and the new officials interacted with the speakers actively.
Participants appreciated iFOREST’s programme structure and the methodology used for imparting knowledge. The small assignments during the training programme were liked by all and the participants said that it gave them a better learning opportunity as they got an opportunity to revisit what was discussed and presented that day.