Government frowns over rising industrial pollution

Baijendra Kumar asks industries to follow pollution norms

Raipur, February 10, 2010 

State government has expressed its concerns over rising pollution in the industrial areas. Principal Secretary to CM, Housing and Environment department N Baijendra Kumar has clearly instructed the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB) to take action against the polluting industries if they do not comply with the pollution norms. Baijendra’s directives came during the review meeting of Korba Action Plan, held here at new Rest House on Wednesday.

Baijendra was severely upset with Korba’s increasing pollution graph. “Already, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has placed Korba on fifth spot among 88 most polluting industrial regions in the country. Now it is high time to wake up and pose seriousness towards stern implementation of pollution norms in the state,” he said.

Baijendra asked the all the industrial units including government, Public Sector Undertakings (PSU) and private ones to frame a work plan on pollution control and act accordingly. “Now, the industries should learn to take responsibility for their causal attitude towards pollution control instead of giving mere reassurances and if they will not comply then CECB would not hesitate in taking action against them,” he warned.

Baijendra was also surprised with the attitude of the government-owned industries and PSUs which instead of setting an example before private industrial units regarding compliance of pollution norms were themselves responsible for rising pollution.

He has instructed Korba Municipal Corporation, Chhattisgarh State Power Holding Company Limited (East) and CECB to jointly frame a work plan and start making efforts to conserve the environment of Korba city. While reviewing the steps initiated SECL, NTPC and BALCO pertaining to environment conservation, he directed the officials to take stringent action against them in caswe of non-compliance.

In the meeting, the CECB member secretary PV Narasimha Rao informed that the major reason for rising pollution in Korba is rapid industrialisation. In addition, except few industrial units, the remaining ones have never taken initiative regarind pollution control, he said.