Pollution

Pollution
Pollution from chemical contaminants certainly poses a further threat to species and ecosystems. While not commonly a cause of extinction, it likely can be for species whose range is extremely small, and threatened by contamination. Several species of desert pupfish, occurring in small isolated pools in the US Southwest, are examples.

Pollution and health go hand in hand. Any type of pollution has an effect on the human body. Only the scale may differ. The effect depends on the severity of pollution to which a person has been exposed to. Air pollution from vehicles, industries and dust results in respiratory disorders like asthma, bronchitis, bronchial irritation, etc.

India spends a sizable portion of its revenue on health problems. In the 36 major cities of India this accounts for about Rs. 9000 crores per year!

Noise pollution from heavy traffic, loudspeakers and industries affect the human system. A noise level of 80 decibels creates tension and increases blood pressure. Continuous exposure to noise levels above 85 db results in tinnitus, while a level of 115-120 db can result in permanent deafness and at times leads to fatigue. Even the foetus in the mother's womb is disturbed by noise pollution.

Pollution : Corporate Interventions

Arvind Mills
The Arvind International (division) has Effluent recycling facilities comprising Chemical, Biological & tertiary treatment and it is of 800-m3/day capacity. The plant also has ISO 9000 & ISO 14000 certification.

Arvind Mills @ the main site at Naroda also possess chemical, biological treatment facilities to treat 10000 m3/day of effluents to meet the pollution control board norms.

Ankur Mills (division) has Effluent treatment plant of 1600-m3/day capacity with chemical & biological treatment facility to achieve the pollution board norms.

Arvind Mills (Garment exports division) is setting up a new garment unit at Mysore road, Bangalore, along with Effluent treatment plant of 1450 m3 /day capacity. This plant also possesses chemical, biological & tertiary treatment facilities to achieve the State Pollution Control Board norms. The uniqueness of this plant is – all it’s process water requirements will be attained through recycled sewage water of Bangalore City.

Air pollution Control Arvind Mills
Arvind Mills has switched from liquid fuel to Natural gas for all their heating & steam requirements in order to avoid the air pollution.
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Ashok Leyland : CNG Processes
India's first CNG-run bus
In January 1997, Mumbai's taxi drivers had a complaint about a BEST bus: they couldn't hear it coming! Not only did it make next to no noise, it also emitted very little pollutants. What makes this yellow-with-green stripe bus different is the fuel that powers it.
Made by Ashok Leyland in technical co-operation with IVECO Motornforshung, Research and Engineering wing of IVECO, Italy, its heart is a CNG engine developed by Ashok Leyland from the IVECO 8060, 6-cylinder diesel engine.
The first CNG bus with DTC was supplied by Ashok Leyland in 1999. Following a trial batch of ten CNG buses, another 100 will join the DTC fleet soon.

CNG Processes
A serious and responsible approach to protecting the environment forms one of the abiding principles at Ashok Leyland. That's why, we strive beyond compliance with the Law to create and implement sound environmental practices into our business decisions and processes. A constant review of the processes has been resulting in modifications and replacements with eco-friendly processes.
Back in the 1960s, shot blasting used for surface cleaning treatment of rough materials and heat treatment scaling at Ennore was replaced with sand-blasting, to eliminate the hazard of lead shots. Later, sand was replaced with steel shots, to eliminate the possibility of silicosis. The blasting dust from the machines is collected by heavy duty dust collectors and go into the making of fire-crackers.

Sodium Cyanide was used in salt bath furnaces for carburising and hardening of components. This involved an elaborate process of handling and disposal of residual cyanide salts. In 1980, this was replaced by carbonitriding process. The four 'Sealed Quench Furnaces' that do carbonitriding now operate without any Sodium Cyanide.

At the modern paintshop at Hosur II, the paint particles in the paint booth are collected immediately by scrubbers to avoid exposure and adverse reactions.
Trichloroethylene and Carbon Tetrachloride – two compounds used for de-greasing at Ennore - were eliminated once they were categorised as 'ozone depletion substances'.
At Ennore, introduction of direct induction hardening has eliminated the copper plating of camshafts before the carburising operation. By the end of 2000, the entire plating activity will be eliminated.

From August 1999, 'green energy' has been powering the Hosur I factory. Electricity generated by windmills (funded by associate company Ashok Leyland Finance) is supplied to the factory through a special agreement with the Tamilnadu Electricity Board. The energy is 'green' because no hydrocarbon is used for power generation. Why, even cooking is eco-friendly here. The canteen runs on solar heaters. Food waste becomes fodder to cattle at a cattle farm at Mathagiri, near Hosur.
In the generator room at Hosur I, modifications to the air filter near the exhaust pipe led to reduction of noise level by 40 decibels. Test beds are made sound-proof by packing sound absorbing material.
CNG - Compressed Natural Gas A Factfile
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Ashok Leyland: Emission Mission
To get the best out of Ashok Leyland's eco-friendly engine technology through reduced emissions, round-the-year awareness and action programmes are held at operators' meets and service campaigns.
Ashok Leyland has also launched a dedicated mobile emission clinic operating on highways and at entry points to New Delhi. The clinic checks vehicles for emission levels, recommends remedies and offers tips on maintenance and care. Even as it spreads the emission mission, it will generate data and insight that will guide further work.

Road Map For Vehicular Emission Norms For New Vehicles

Permissible Limits

Tightening Norms (for diesel vehicles > 3.5 ton gvw)
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German Remedies : Environment Conscious

GRL cares for the environment and takes adequate measures to protect it. Due importance is given by the Company for proper compliance with the prescribed industrial safety, environmental protection, and pollution control regulations at all its production plants, through periodic checks of the systems involved, and constant monitoring, to meet the standards set by the Pollution Control Authorities.

German Remedies concern not only reaches out in maintaining its surrounding areas but also in maintaining a beautiful garden within the premises of the famous shrine the Basilica of Bom Jesus World Heritage Church at old Goa. The idea took shape when Mr. M. Knoll, Managing Director, German Remedies Limited, visited the shrine in 1993. Now, this small stretch has grown into a beautiful lush green abode. This is just another milestone in the direction of conserving nature.

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Godrej Group : The Godrej Ganga Ecology Panel
Concerned as we have been with environmental and ecological problems, we consider it our duty to contribute appropriately towards the management of the ecology in the Ganga Basin, which has a drainage area of 8,60,000 sq. kms., accounting for over 40% of the country's irrigated land and sustaining 37% of the population. This is a step in our endeavour to link business activities with ecological problems like that of the Ganga to restore it to its pristine purity and of the denudation of our forests.

The Godrej Ganga Ecology Panel's major role will be to create public awareness. It will strive towards the involvement of the people living on the banks of the Ganga in realising the goals of the Action Plan involving the preservation of Heritage Monuments. It will support suitable non-government organisations and universities in the neighbourhood for ensuring research and social monitoring of the pollution.

Godrej Group : Noise Pollution
In 1983, when the late Mr. S. P. Godrej was the Sheriff of Mumbai, he initiated a campaign against Noise Pollution. This effort made people aware of the ill-effects of noise on our health. "Sarvajanik Diwali", celebrated annually, is a unique example, which demonstrates that Diwali is a festival of lights and not noise! The Forum Against Noise Pollution, which he used to head, is engaged in getting suitable legislation passed in order to combat this dangerous health hazard.

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GNFC
Major milestones of EMS implementation

• Initiation of ISO:14001 activities Feb,2000
• Appointment of ISO:14001 consultant Jul,2000
• Formation of Core Departmental team Aug,2000
• Release of Environment Policy by MD Jan, 2001
• Formation of Environmental Management Review Feb, 2001 Committee (EMRC)
• Release of EMS documentation Mar, 2001
• First internal audit Jun, 2001
• Pre certification audit Sept, 2001
• Final certification audit Nov, 2001
• Issue of ISO:14001 certificate Jan, 2002

Some major benefits achieved so far through EMS implementation are listed below:

• Conservation in energy consumption
• Reduction in water consumption
• Reduction in lube oil consumption
• Increase in recovery of used lube oil
• Increase in revenue from scrap sale due to better segregation
• Improved house keeping in the complex
• Increase in the awareness for environmental responsibility at all levels in the organization

We at GNFC recognized the need to take a proactive approach for continuously improving upon our environmental performance. Implementation of EMS and achieving ISO:14001 certification is a step in this direction.

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Kinetic

We have taken the initiative to implement following innovative projects

• Energy conservation thorugh wind Mill farm at our Pithampur factory.
• We have worked in co-operation with "Nirdhar" another NGO to put up Pollution Monitoring Boards at busy intersections to create public awareness of the danger of pollution.

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Kirloskar Brothers Ltd. : Features of air pollution control equipments

• Closed circuit moulding sand preparation and reconditioning plant installed in the Heavy / ACS Foundry.
• Dust Collection plant for C.I. Foundry sand plant. Installed capacity: - 110 H.P.
• Industrial dust collector units connected to all the three shot blasting chambers.
• Hot blast, ash trap type cupolas installed in C.I. Foundry to capture particulate matters.
• Six electrical induction furnaces used in foundries.
• The company has also fostered a culture of concern for nature amongst its employees and surroundings communities through regular workshops, seminars and films.

In the near future, KBL plans to support reputed worldwide nature conservation bodies in tree plantation drives and other nature conservation activities.

KBL's activities have been recognized by the State Government of Maharashtra, which bestowed the prestigious Vanashree Award in the year 1992 on it.

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Maruti Udyog Ltd. is committed to

• Maintain and continually improve upon our Environmental Management system and performance.
• Prevention of pollution resulting from our business activities and products.
• Strictly adhere to environmental laws and further follow our own standards.

Recognizing our responsibility to provide a green and safe environment, we put forward following action guidelines

• Promote energy conservation
• Promote three R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)
• Promote "Green" procurement
• Provide environmental education to all the personnel working for or on the behalf of Maruti Udyog Limited

Since the commencement of operations in 1981 we've been committed to the protection of the environment and conservation of non-renewable energy sources. Our proactive approach depends not only upon meeting the expectations of the regulatory authorities but achieving the high standards that we've set as a responsible corporate citizen.

This philosophy of trying to make a difference to the environment penetrates through our employees to the process of manufacture and finally into our products.

Pollution Control Camps
Our elaborate system of Free Pollution Check-Up Camps which run at regular intervals, is designed at making the cars already on the road operate more efficiently. It also inculcates awareness for environmental protection among the many car users of India.

MPFI
We have introduced Euro II compliant MPFI engines in all our models. Along with our vendors, we've made investments of over Rs. 60 million for introducing MPFI technology compliant cars.

CNG
Maruti is a strong advocate of CNG, a more eco-friendly fuel alternative to diesel and petrol. In our endeavour to provide a cleaner and greener option to the customer, we are in the process of equipping an extensive dealer network to assist Maruti owners in fitting CNG kits.

Rain Water Harvesting
To recharge the aquifer, measures were taken to harvest the rain water through soak pits, recharging shafts and water lagoons. These measures are capable of charging nearly 50% of the average annual rainfall at Maruti, into the Earth.

Post Script
Our social efforts were a key factor in the company being awarded the CII-EXIM Business Excellence Award in November 1998. Maruti is only the second company to have won this prestigious award which covers all aspects of a company's operation, and pays considerable attention to the company's social and environmental efforts. In recognition of our commitment to environment protection and conservation of non-renewable energy sources, we were awarded the ISO 14001 Certificate for our Environment Management Systems at the Gurgaon Plant. The ISO 14001 certification is applicable to all our manufacturing activities, products and services.