By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR:Union Education Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan has sought personal intervention to permanently address the growing problem of excessive air pollution in the Angul-Talcher industrial area. In this context, he has written separate letters to Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupendra Yadav, Union Minister for Coal and Mines Shri G. Kishan Reddy and Odisha Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, apprised them of the threat posed to public health.
Shri Pradhan expressed concern over the ‘severe’ Air Quality Index (AQI) in Angul. He said that it is particularly worrying that Talcher has been included in the list of the most polluted cities in the country. He said that this is endangering the health of children, the elderly and those suffering from respiratory diseases.
For this, Shri Pradhan has made three separate proposals through letters. He has proposed strict implementation of pollution control norms at industrial sites and strengthening of real-time monitoring system, directing the Coal Ministry to adopt ‘Mechanized Coal Transportation System’ and improved dust suppression systems in coal transportation, creation of ‘green buffer’ through extensive tree plantation around industrial sites and mining corridors and expansion of targeted schemes under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
Shri Pradhan pointed out that the steps taken under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) are temporary. Therefore, a permanent solution needs to be found by maintaining coordination between the State Pollution Control Board, District Administration and various industrial units. He emphasized on the joint cooperation of the Central and State Governments to improve the living conditions of the people of Angul and Talcher areas.
