Times of India , Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Correspondent : Staff Reporter

NAGPUR: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s environment report for 2006-07 found that suspended pariculate matter (SPM) in commercial, industrial and even residential areas of the city exceeds the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The report which will be tabled before the NMC meeting on Thursday also reveals large-scale illegal disposal of bio-medical waste and waste from slaughter houses and also expresses concern over declining tree cover in the city. A executive summary of the report was circulated to mayor Maya Iwanate and leaders of all political parties in corporation last week. The 2006-07 report notes that air quality in Nagpur can be rated as good. Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide levels are within limits. The city does not have large industries and hence the high SPM levels are mainly due to demolition of buildings, construction activity, excavation of roads. The report recommends an action plan to keep in check air pollution and noise pollution and recommends that proper care needs to be taken during demolition and excavation to ensure that dust does not settle in air. Apart from planting more trees and ensuring that vehicles get the PUC certificate the report also calls on the government to ban use of loud horns and loudspeakers during specific hours. The environment report notes that bio-medical waste from large number of clinics is disposed in dustbins and calls upon the Nagpur corporation to penalise them. It suggests that while renewing registration of clinics proof of proper disposal of bio-medical waste should be demanded by government authorities. It also demands action against slaughter houses who dispose waste in civic drains and states that these should be shifted out of residential areas. It also covers in details other water, sewerage and solid waste management departments. As a way to reduce influx of people into Nagpur, the report advocates developing of Katol and Kamptee as satellite towns. "The existing infrastructure in these towns can be strengthened to boost the commercial and industrial activities and increase job opportunities. Similarly, the construction of outer ring road should be completed at an early date so that truck traffic will by-pass the city reducing environmental pollution," states the report. Corporators, however, are doubtful whether the report will be put into action. Last month corporators had taken civic administration to task for not submitting environment reports to the house and demanded action against an employee who failed to prepare the reports. BJP corporator Sandeep Joshi pointed out that the administration is negligent on the issue of environment and corporators too are ignorant. "Many of them are not aware of the environment report. Officials too have no clue how to implement it. It appears that this report is prepared for the sake of it," he said adding that it is an obligatory duty of the corporation to prepare the report. The report for year 2003-04 was presented before the civic house in a meeting last month.

SOURCE : Times of India, Wednesday, 29 August 2007