Chennai: The CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) on Friday organised a stakeholders' conclave in Chennai to deliberate on current and emerging environmental issues in southern India, bringing together regulators, industry representatives and scientists.

The meet, held at the CSIR Madras Complex, saw participation from over 350 delegates, including officials from state pollution control boards of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, as well as industry representatives from L&T, Ramky, Saint Gobain, Ranitec and others.

NEERI Director S. Venkata Mohan flagged concerns over groundwater overuse, climate change impacts and loss of region-specific species due to pollution, while highlighting the institute's interventions in biomedical waste management, soil remediation and treatment of effluents in tannery and textile sectors.

Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board chairperson Jayanthi Murali stressed the need to address issues of heavy metals, microplastics, e-waste, single-use plastics and odour from fish industries, while Kerala PCB chairperson S. Sreekala called for intensive R&D to tackle potable water contamination, antimicrobial resistance and urban waste treatment.

Industry voices, including L&T Vice President and CTO K. Rajeevan, underlined the importance of recycling, upgrading sewage treatment plants and developing cost-effective solutions for emerging pollutants.

A technical session and panel discussion focused on challenges in industrial waste management, zero liquid discharge systems, and circular economy approaches. The conclave concluded with a call for stronger collaboration among states, industry and academia, and the formulation of comprehensive national policies to address emerging environmental threats.