Prevention and Control of Pollution in Poultry Units

Government of West Bengal
Department of Environment
415/A, Block-‘FD’, 4th Floor
Poura Bhawan, Sector-III, Saltlake, Kolkata-106.

No. 1556/EN/O-18/2016 Dated, Kolkata 18th July, 2016.

NOTIFICATION

Whereas the National Green Tribunal, Eastern Bench, Kolkata in Original Application No. 23/2014/EZ with M.A. 22/2015/EZ (Dipak Mondol-Vs-Pollution Control Appellate Authority, W.B., W.B.P.C.B.& Ors.) was pleased to constitute a committee consisting of Director, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, Head of Regional Office, Central Pollution Control Board, Kolkata and Member Secretary, West Bengal Pollution Control Board (as Member Convenor). The Committee was asked to frame the guidelines for sitting criteria and management of waste and pollution generated from poultry, hatchery etc. in the light of the order of the Tribunal and the guidelines issued by the Haryana Government for consideration and implementation in the State of West Bengal;

And whereas the Committee has framed the Guidelines and forwarded the same to the Government;

Now, therefore, the Government of West Bengal hereby approves the Guidelines (annexed) for implementation in the State of West Bengal.

Principal Secretary to
Government of West Bengal

Guidelines for prevention and control of pollution in poultry units

In the said guideline, the term “Poultry Unit” refers to hatcheries including custom hatcheries, breeding farms, layer and broiler farms rearing fowl, duck etc. which are handling 5000 or more birds at a given time in a single location.

1. Sitting Criteria (For new poultry farms)

i. The poultry farm should not be located within –

a. 500 m from other poultry farms, dairy or other livestock enterprises.

b. 100 m from major water course like rivers, lakes, canals and also from natural waterbody, wells, tanks, reservoirs etc.

c. 10 m from roads for public use.

ii. Poultry units with capacity of 20,000 birds or more at a time should be located away from residential area.

iii. The poultry shed should be located at least 5 m away from the farm boundary and at least 2 m above water table and 0.5 m above ground level.

2. Fencing and greenery development

i. The poultry farm shall raise adequate shrubs all around the farm. Necessary precautionary measures shall be taken to prevent wind-borne dispersion of feathers/fibrous materials to the surrounding area.

ii. Poultry farm should be fenced with barbed wire/linked mesh wire up to a height 1.5 m for ensuring secured entrance and must have a single point of entry.

Farm should maintain proper vehicle dip and footbath at the entrance control gate and also footbaths at the entrance of all sheds.

3. Air emission (includes gaseous emission, odour and dust)

For minimization of odour/ gaseous pollution problem, the poultry should undertake the following :

i. Ensure proper ventilation and free flow of air over manure collection points to keep it dry.

ii. Protect manure from unwanted pests/ insects.

iii. Protect manure from run-off water and cover it to avoid dust and odours in storage pits.

iv. Design, construct, operate and maintain waste storage facilities to contain all manure, litter and washings.

v. Collect carcasses promptly on regular basis and dispose-off appropriately without damaging the environment.

Feed Mills

The feed mill and godown should be located on a well elevated ground preferably near the entrance to the farm and separated from other poultry sheds. Floor of the feed mill and godown should be concrete, damp proof, rodent/vermin proof and raised above the ground level by a minimum of 0.6m. The feed mill should have a dust collector system, adequate fire and other accident safety provisions. Pesticides and other poisonous materials should never be stored in feed plants or feed making premises.

All the workers working in the feed mill should be provided with dust masks.

4. Management of solid wastes (viz. dead birds, manure and hatchery debris)

Waste generation should be minimized in regular farm management schedule.

Solid Wastes should be properly collected, sorted, treated, transported and utilized following the guidelines of the Directorate of Animal Resources and Animal Health as stated below:

a) Litter Condition/ Management: Litter should be made with dry straw and/ or dry saw-dust in deep-litter system of management. The thickness of litter should be 2″ to 6″ and the litter should always be dry. In case of soaking with water, the wet litter should immediately be removed and replaced with dry straw and/or saw-dust mixed with dry lime.

b) After every two (02) months for broiler and eighteen (18) months for layer and breeder, the entire used litter should be disposed-off and new dry litter should be introduced.

c) Disposal of Spoiled eggs: The spoiled eggs should be disposed-off in a pit with a depth of 2’6″ to 8’0″ with an average radius of 3’0″ depending upon the volume of spoiled eggs. Lime or bleaching powder should be spread over the spoiled eggs before covering the pit.

d) Disposal of dead birds: Dead birds should be disposed-off in a pit with depth of 8’0″ to 12’0″ with an average radius of 3’0″ depending upon the volume of dead birds. Lime or bleaching powder should be spread over the dead birds before covering the pit.

e) Disposal of used litter: The litter should be removed and disposed-off in a manure pit or cultivable land in an isolated place after necessary treatment. The litter may also be suitably disposed-off. After removal of the litter, the shed should be washed and cleaned with appropriate disinfectant. Fumigation is also advocated, particularly after any outbreak of epidemics. Before introducing new litter, total shed area should be spread with lime.

f) Adequate quarantine measures should be taken.
Poultry farms should have properly designed composting facilities. Poultry farms having capacity of more than 1,00,000 birds will install properly designed incinerators along with other pollution control measures following all relevant norms.

5. Waste water management

Waste water generated shall be contained in settling tanks and discharged to soak pits inside the premises and may be used for greenery development within the premises. No waste water shall be discharged outside the premises or discharged to nearby land or water body. Proper drainage/ outlet for collection and discharge should be provided for storm runoff/ discharges from the farm.

6. Administrative mechanisms (including consent management)

i. Poultry units will get registered with the Department of Animal Resources Development, Government of West Bengal.

ii. The poultry farms which are handling 1,00,000 or more birds at a given time in a single location need to approach WBPCB to obtain necessary Consent to Establish and Operate under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

iii. Poultry farms/ hatcheries where the birds are reared/ kept for experiment or testing purposes are required to obtain authorization from the WBPCB under the provisions of the Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998.

No. 1556-EN dated 18.07.2016