As per Schedule II inserted to The Environmental (Protection) Rules, 1986 of the Ministry of Energy and Forests on 12th September 1988, the dissolved solids (inorganic) in industrial effluents released to join inland surface water bodies, public sewers, and irrigated lands should not exceed 2100 mg/L.

But, this parameter has been completely deleted without assigning any reasons in Schedule VI inserted to the same Rules on 19th May 1993 but modified on 31st December 1993 (http://www.cpcb.nic.in/New%20Item/greenbook/(19)%20EP%20Rules%20Annexure-II.doc (Page 460).

Why standards pertaining to this parameter have been deleted? Is that means, that industries are free to release effluents carrying any concentration of dissolved solids?

Dr. R. Jagadiswara Rao
Retired Professor of Geology
Sri Venkateswara University
Tirupati, AP 517502
rjagadiswara@gmail.com