Centre has notified stricter environment norms for sugar industries operating in various states in the country to minimise water pollution. Under the new norms, wastewater discharge standards have been made stricter, by limiting the same to 200 litre per tonne of crushed cane, as against the previous limit of 400 litre per tonne. <br/><br/>The final treated effluent discharge has been restricted to 100 litre per tonne of cane crushed and waste water from spray pond overflow, or cooling tower blow down to be restricted to 100 litre per tonne of cane crushed. Only single outlet point from unit has been allowed to encourage operational efficiency and treated effluent recycling practices.<br/><br/>Environment Ministry press release said, this will ultimately result in less consumption of raw water at operational level. <br/><br/>The Ministry said, the number of effluent quality parameters to be monitored for ascertaining compliance have now been increased to six.