NGT to MP government: Display vehicular pollution and air quality of area on every cross road in MP cities

The Times of India , Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Correspondent : Aditi Gyanesh
BHOPAL: Giving the landmark judgement to control the air ambient quality of Bhopal as well as other cities of Madhya Pradesh, National Green Tribunal on Monday asked Madhya Pradesh Pollutioncontrol board and state government, to ensure that all major cities at lease at two points which are have higher density of vehicular traffic as well as markets etc. electronic display board should be set up by the local Municipality for creating awareness with regard to the air quality in the area as also its impact on human beings and other living creatures.

The Ministry of Urban Development should issue necessary directions to the local municipalities of all towns having the head office of the commissioner / division for providing such display boards in the first instance. These electronic display boards should be arranged and made functional on or before March 31, 2017.

It also asked for monitoring of air ambient quality report on daily basis.

The orders were given in while hearing petition filed by environmentalist Subhash C Pandey, on January 12. 2016, where he claimed that air ambient quality at several places in Bhopal, has reached equivalent to that of worst affected areas of New Delhi. These included Nehru Nagar, Hamidia road, and Mandideep.

"The points covered in NGT orders today are commendable and will change Bhopal and other polluted city of Madhya Pradesh completely. This will make the place much better for living. Now itsall in hands of state government and MPPCB to make it possible. The order will be proved a milestone then," said Subhash C Pandey, while talking to TOI about the orders.

These display boards can also display the temperature and other useful information for the public knowledge. We would also direct that the R.Os, MPPCB shall make arrangements for having at least one mobile unit as a monitoring station which would record the ambience air quality at peak hours of traffic at different locations on a periodical basis, when the vehicular pollution is higher and maximum number of people are on roads with their vehicles.

It is to be mentioned that in its air ambient quality report 2016, World health organization has reported Gwalior in its top 5 cities across India, where condition is severe.

According to annual air ambient quality report of MPPCB this year, Construction work causes more pollution than vehicles in Bhopal. The report was released in May, 2016.

On April 27, 2016, NGT has asked MPPCB about steps taken to measure the air ambient quality in state, to which the authority on Monday told that They submitted that for monitoring 11 parameters in the city of Bhopal 6 monitoring stations have been established likewise in 13 cities of M.P. monitoring stations have been established and their readings are being periodically received. It is further stated that out of 12 parameters prescribed how the MPPCB have achieved the ability to monitor 11 parameters except the Carbon Mono-oxide for which also the steps are being taken.

Residents will also get a chance to suggest control:

While giving the orders to control air Ambient quality in these cities NGT also gave liberty to involve common people for their suggestion along with the concerned authorities.

Atleast one mobile unit in four major districts of MP:

"Monitoring the ambient air quality these stations have been established at rooftop level. However, we are of the view since majority of the people are travelling during the peak hours on the road the air quality at that level is also necessary to be monitored since people are more exposed at the ground level. This is particularly so when a large population is either travelling on two wheelers or the cycle or on foot tend to be affected more," added NGT.

We would therefore, recommend that at least one such mobile unit with necessary equipments are placed at different location at different time and to start with this will be done in four major cities of MP i.e. Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore and Jabalpur

Special recommendations for Bhopal:

Based upon the data available with the PCB up to November 15, 2016 of those locations which have been identified in Bhopal the Member Secretary MPPCB and the RO of the PCB Bhopal shall convene a meeting of the ADM city Bhopal, SP traffic Bhopal, the Commissioner Municipal Corporation Bhopal, the RTO Bhopal as well as the PWD which is responsible for the maintenance or the construction of the road which will find ways and means for the improvement of the air quality at the points which may be in the red and orange category bordering the limits prescribed and exceeding the prescribed limits.

This will include ensuring smooth flow of traffic and also ensuring that no parking on inter-sections and round abouts particularly of city buses, hawkers are allowed to take place during peak hours considering the conditions of the road particularly post monsoon and examining the necessity of having traffic diversion and one way traffic movement if necessary among other issues that may be discussed.

Burning of waste is cause of pollution:

The major component of air pollution in cities come from burning of waste giving rise to methane in the MSW dump sites. In the past some fire accidents have occurred in the city of Bhopal where plastic and rubber factories and godowns have caught fire. Wherever necessary these hazardous occupants need to be shifted out from colonies and areas with high density pollution to safer and more appropriate locations. For the aforesaid the district administration as well as the PCB which may have the details of all such occupants and businesses shall provide the same to the district administration.

Vehicular pollution have not been effective anywhere in state yet:

Vehicular pollution control measures have so far not become very effective and therefore, on a continuous basis a drive for ensuring that the vehicles meet the pollutions under control (PUC) certificate norms must be carried out. We have been informed that the police has resorted to and are carrying out a drive for e-challans with help of CCTV cameras to convey the information to the defaulters, said NGT and ordered that photographs from the onscreen of the vehicle with the registration number and PUC certificate in order to send notice to obtain the necessary PUC certificate within the notice period failing which action be initiated against the offending vehicle for not responding favourably in terms of the notice issued by the police and the transport authorities.

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/ngt-to-mp-government-display-vehicular-pollution-and-air-quality-of-area-on-every-cross-road-in-mp-cities/articleshow/55683488.cms
 


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