TNPC Board creates environmental awareness among the people of the State through the Environmental Pavilion setup at Periyar Science and Technology Centre, Chennai as well as by conducting Painting, Essay Writing and Oratorical contests on environmental issues and screening of video film and short film shows etc. TNPC Board has also established a Pollution Awareness and Assistance Cell in the Head Office.

The Non-Governmental Organisation Cell, established in the Head Office of the Board creates a net work of NGOs in consultation with other State Pollution Control Boards and Central Pollution Control Board and functions as a forum for creating awareness.

TNPC Board has established an Environmental Training Institute with Danish Assistance of Rs.4 crores in its Head Office to impart training to industries, local bodies, NGOs and the Staff of TNPC Board to make them competent and capable of controlling and advising industries on pollution abatement and prevention techniques suitable to the local needs. The Environmental Training Institute has conducted 138 training programmes and trained 2,627 participants in total from December, 1995 upto 31.12.1999.

With the growing use and handling of hazardous chemicals in our country, there is a great potential for accidents. TNPC Board has established the control room of the Emergency Response Centre in its Head Office and the local control room at Manali.

The Ozone Monitoring Cell in the Corporate office of the Board has carried out a study identifying the users of Ozone Depleting Substances so as to estimate its present demand and to make future projections. 55 industries consuming 1276.28 tonnes of Ozone Depleting Substances in total have been identified in the State and have been suggested on the adoption of alternatives. The findings of the study serve as a base to systematic substitute for Ozone Depleting Substances with environment friendly compounds.

TNPC Board has established an Applied Research and Development Wing in the Advanced Environmental Laboratory at Chennai with a view to develop cleaner technologies that would reduce the generation of pollution. The wing in consultation with University of Chennai has prepared a research project entitled "Bio-Treatment of Tannery effluent by Microbes" to study the degradation of tannin and other organic and inorganic compounds of tannery effluents. Certain selected tanneries have also been identified for implementing the project.

The World Bank is providing assistance to TNPC Board through the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India for strengthening its Laboratories under the Industrial Pollution Control Project. Under the Project, TNPC Board has received Rs.71.88 lakhs worth of equipments/instruments in Phase-I and Rs.707.21 lakhs worth of instruments in Phase-II.

During 1998-99, Board has implemented the Annual Plan Scheme for establishment of District Environmental Laboratory at Tiruppur at a cost of Rs.37.51 lakhs with its own funds. During 1999-2000, Board is implementing the following Annual Plan Schemes with its own funds.

2. Establishment of District Environmental Laboratory at Erode at a cost of Rs.38.90 lakhs. Such Annual Plans are implemented with its own funds.

Annual Plan Scheme for establishment of Bio-Monitoring Wing in the Advanced Environmental Laboratory at Salem at a cost of Rs.19.32 lakhs. The Wing will carry out bio-assessment of water bodies using artificial substratum and the data generated will be useful to assess the stress and effect of shock load of pollutants on the fresh water eco-system due to man made activities. Initially, the water quality of River Cauvery will be monitored under this scheme.

The Department of Environment was created on 13.10.95 for the management of the environmental issues of Tamil Nadu. The Department is in charge of implementation of major projects like pollution abatement in Cauvery system, pollution abatement in Coastal Riverine System in Chennai City and National Lake Conservation Programme.

In addition to this, the department continuously deals with all aspects of environment other than those dealt with by Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board. This department is functioning at Chennai since 22.3.96.

Preparation of Resource Atlas for Environmental Management of Thiruvallur, Erode Districts and preparation of carrying capacity based development planning for Tuticorin are being taken up under Part II Scheme at an outlay of Rs.15.00 lakhs. An amount of Rs.18.00 lakhs has been sanctioned for carrying out other environment awareness activities including formation of Environment Clubs in schools and colleges, Environmental Education Resource Centres, constitution of environment awards, etc.

Action is being taken under National River Conservation Plan to prevent pollution in major rivers like Cauvery, Vaigai and Tamirabarani by interception, diversion and treatment of domestic sewage from Municipalities and Corporations.

National River Conservation Plan is being implemented since 1997 with the assistance from Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. The scheme is implemented for a period of 10 years in the highly polluted stretches of River Cauvery viz., Bhavani, Komarapalayam, Erode, Pallipalayam and Trichy at a total cost of Rs.38.20 crores.

The various works under the scheme are executed through TWAD Board and concerned local bodies. The implementation of the scheme is monitored by the Directorate of Environment. The Government of Tamil Nadu has proposed to draw pollution abatement schemes for the other polluted towns situated on the banks of Cauvery and its tributories viz., Karur, Sathyamangalam, Srirangam, Mettuplayam, Kumbakonam, Myladuthurai, Madurai and Theni towns on the banks of Vaigai River and Tirunelveli Corporation situated on the banks of Tamirabarani and to implement the schemes with financial assistance from Government of India.

A comprehensive proposal at an outlay of Rs.1700 crores has been drawn up to improve the environmental conditions of Chennai city waterways in co-ordination with the Public Works Department, Slum Clearance Board, Chennai Corporation and Metro Water. The scheme has been presented before the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India and Union Planning Commission for necessary central financial assistance.

Tamil Nadu Coastal Zone Management Authority is functioning to regulate and monitor the activities in the coastal stretches and is entrusted with the task of protection of coastal environment including examination of the project proposals. The coastal regulation zones of Tamil Nadu are categorised as CRZ-I, II and III.

The project proposals in the coastal regulation zones are scrutinised by the State Coastal Zone Management Authority and forwarded to National Coastal Zone Authority with due recommendations for approval.

Coastal Zone Management Plan in 31 sheets covering 12 coastal districts of Tamil Nadu from Pulicat Lake to Kanyakumari have been prepared and these plans were scrutinised by the State Coastal Zone Management Authority with due care and recommended to National Coastal Zone Management Authority for approval.

Government have allotted Rs.2.50 crores for demarcation of High Tide Line and 500 metres from HTL along the coastal stretches of Pulicat Lake upto Kanyakumari.

In the first phase, an amount of Rs.54.00 lakhs has been sanctioned and Rs.42.45 lakhs have been paid to the Chief Hydrographer, Dehra Dun, Government of India to complete the HTL demarcation work from Pulicat Lake to Palar River mouth and the works are in progress. The other works connected with the survey are in progress with the assistance of district officials of Thiruvallur, Chennai and Kancheepuram districts at a cost of Rs.11.55 lakhs.

Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India have prescribed certain rules to accord environmental clearance for developmental projects after assessing the Environmental impacts from such projects under Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986. As per the amendment notification, 1997 on the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification 1994, Government of India prescribed the constitution and functioning of public hearing panels while considering the projects for environmental clearance. Powers have also been delegated to State Government for issuing Environmental Clearance for certain categories of Thermal Power Plants.

For implementation of the above delegations as per provisions contained in the amended Notification, Environment and Forests Department, Government of Tamil Nadu constituted an Expert Committee on 29.12.98. The Committee is represented by experts in the field of Environmental Management, pollution control, water resources management, land use, bio-diversity, social sciences, project evaluation, environmental health and representatives from non-governmental organisations. Director of Environment is designated as Member Secretary of the above Committee. Two meetings had been conducted so far and two thermal power project proposals were considered by the Expert Committee.

An Urban Environmental Improvement Scheme, will be implemented jointly by the State and Urban Governments by developing greenery for abatement of air and water pollution in the urban areas of CMDA including Chennai Corporation and in the Corporation of Madurai, Coimbatore, Salem and Tirunelveli at a cost of Rs.4.56 crores. A similar scheme will be implemented in the areas of Tiruchy Corporation, Erode, Kumarapalayam, Bhavani, Pallipalayam towns which are already covered under National River Conservation Plan which will be assisted fully by the Government of India.

Suitable tree species will be planted and protected on either side of the important roads and other areas within municipal limits. This scheme will be extended to the other municipal areas of the State in stages. Municipalities, Industrial houses and voluntary organisations have committed to jointly work towards implementation of this scheme as a mass movement

The programme on pollution abatement in Cauvery River will be continued during the year 2000-2001 at an outlay of Rs.500 lakhs as a Centrally sponsored schemes. A scheme for implementation of Water Quality Monitoring Programme under the National River Conservation Plan, in five towns along Cauvery river has been approved by Government of India at a cost of Rs.7.79 lakhs. The works are in progress and will be continued in 2000-2001.

To strengthen the activities of the Directorate of Environment, Rs.23.50 lakhs have been allotted under Part II Scheme for 2000-2001. The activities will cover environmental education and awareness, research works and strengthening of the department.The Government have implemented several programmes for Environmental improvement in the State. It will continue to implement more such schemes.