House Committee deliberates on Climate Change: Pollution Control on Focus

The first meeting of the House Committee to look into the aspects of environmental pollution in the State, held today under the chairmanship of OLA Surjya Narayan Patro, deliberated on future plan and program for the protection of the environment and emphasized on pollution control.

It also discussed on climatic change, steps taken by ULBs and PR & DW Department for disposal of waste management; prevention, control or abatement of pollution and enforcement of the environmental laws. Issues related to pollution in mining areas, rivers, and Chilika Lake were also discussed. Forest & Environment Department Principal Secretary Mona Sharma, PCCF Dr. Sandeep Tripathy, Special Secretary Dr. K Murugeson and State Pollution Control Board Member Secretary Debidutta Biswal apprised the Committee on the activities of the Department.

The officials informed that the State Pollution Control Board was entrusted with the responsibilities of implementing the environmental acts. The Fly Ash Resource Centre has been set up for the management and utilization of fly ash in the state. Initiatives have been taken to facilitate bulk utilization of other industrial solid wastes.

In order to augment the capacity of the Board in the area of Coastal Environment Monitoring, the World Bank assisted Coastal Zone Management Project is being implemented, they informed.

Continuous online monitoring of stack emission and Ambient Air quality in mines and industrial areas are being made, the Committee was told. Star rating program in collaboration with EPIC-India (Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago) has been started; and online application processing for consent to establish and operate, hazardous and bio-medical waste has been started

The Committee also decided to constitute five sub-committees. While three of these sub-committees would look into the environmental pollution of all natures in all districts of the state and submit their report to the main committee for consideration, the fourth sub-committee would examine the Action Taken Reports of the Committee presented to the House so far. The fifth Committee would suggest rules, regulations, laws, instructions for better protection of Forest & Environment in the state.