ROLE OF AIR QUALITY MODEL VIS-À-VIS ACTUAL AIR QUALITY SCENARIO IN HALDIA INDUSTRIAL REGION, WEST BENGAL, INDIA – A CASE STUDY

Abstract :

Air Quality Models (AQM) are in general used for estimation of the contribution from the new sources over the existing air quality in the worst meteorological condition as well as in average towards obtaining Environmental Clearance for any proposed project from Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (EIAA) as per the EIA Notification – 2006. This presentation will cover a case study in Haldia Industrial Region, one of the major industrial regions in state West Bengal, India just beside the Haldia Port having a great importance for industrial development. The list of existing industries consists of oil refineries, petrochemicals industry, chemical industries, pesticides manufacturing industry, sugar refinery, coke oven & waste heat recovery power plant with the upcoming coal fired thermal power plant, metallurgical industries and oil refinery apart from the expansion of the existing units. The assessment using air quality model has been considered for all the projects obtained / due for Environmental Clearance as a part of statutory requirement to interpret air quality levels after the commissioning and during operation of the plant. The actual trend of air quality level considering air quality monitoring data (both from industry and West Bengal Pollution Control Board) has also been presented with particular relevance to the present air quality in Haldia Industrial Region. The presentation will illustrate the location of the different industries including major contribution to ambient air quality, the ambient air quality monitoring locations with average results and the trend in air quality as per the monitoring results. Considering the assessment using air quality model towards environmental clearance, this presentation will interpret the comparison between ambient air quality by assessment and monitoring data in this case study.