Lucknow: Data generated by Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (CEMS) is not reliable enough for regulatory use, a report released by the International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology (iFOREST) in collaboration with Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) has said.The report was released in Lucknow on Tuesday and reviews the performance of CEMS, which have been mandatory since 2014 for highly polluting industries to provide pollution control boards with credible, real-time emissions data for air and water.CEMS are automated monitoring devices installed on industrial stacks to measure pollutants and transmit readings in real time. While most highly polluting industries in Uttar Pradesh have installed the systems, the assessment found that poor calibration and maintenance are undermining the quality of the data being generated.The study assessed 163 CEMS installations across 41 industrial units spanning sectors including thermal power, sugar, paper, textile and cement. It found that installations generally met legal requirements, but operational weaknesses meant the data could not be depended upon for compliance decisions or enforcement.Manoj Kumar Singh, CEO of State Transformation Commission, said CEMS had been implemented unevenly and was “not yet delivering the reliable data it was meant to provide.” He said proper calibration was essential for regulatory action and suggested publishing CEMS data and using AI tools to flag anomalies and detect tampering to improve compliance.Chandra Bhushan, CEO of iFOREST, said effective implementation could reduce compliance costs for industry while making regulation “more transparent, efficient and evidence-based.”The report proposes an 18-month roadmap to transition Uttar Pradesh towards CEMS-based compliance. It also flagged several gaps, noting that only 27% of industries could confirm installation of certified CEMS, calibration was largely left to vendors, leading to widespread inaccuracy, no industry could confirm conversion of data into the standard compliance format, and there is currently no system to verify correct installation and operation of the monitoring systems.
