ANNOUNCEMENTS
Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) is a synthetic chemical product that has been in use since the 60s. The use of PCB was enhanced in India during the progression phase in the industrial & energy sector. Owing to its stability, insulation and non- flammability, PCB were widely used as an industrial chemical product & its foremost usages were in the energy sector as “Transformers, capacitors (coolants & lubricants). The detrimental impacts of PCBs came upfront in late 60s i.e. human carcinogenic, persistent nature, bio-accumulative, toxic and lethal to human as well as wildlife. Subsequently PCB was added to “Stockholm Convention” as a persistent organic pollutant. The “Stockholm Convention” specifies the deadlines for the gradual removal of PCBs as by “2025-Phase out” and “2028-Elimination”. India being a signatory to the Stockholm Convention needs to comply with the targets. In this context the current study is an exploratory research that focuses on the identification of the current status of PCBs in terms of their presence, and strategies undertaken by India to achieve the targets. Subsequently, to analysis whether it will be possible to achieve the targets in a timely and sustainable manner by India. The study also attempts to review the management aspects and strategies used internationally for achieving the targets. All the inferences have been made through consulting stakeholders and reviewing secondary literature. The study concludes that India has a significant stockpile of PCBs i.e. 10,000 T with the highest stocks present in the southern and central India. The study also highlights that there much greater number of stock and contaminated sites present than identified in the initial inventory. Analyzing the strategies used by the country it can be reasonable said that India will not be able to achieve the targets and need to plan more strategically by updating the inventories, consider the practices used internationally and looking for the trail run of cement kiln as a sustainable option for the destruction of PCBs.
Keyword: Polychlorinated Biphenyls, Persistent Organic Pollutants, Chemicals, Cement Kiln, Stockholm Conventions, National Implementation Plan, Best Available Technology.
