Even as pollution checking of vehicles have commenced in Raipur amid absymally low number of pollution checking centres in proportion to the number of vehicles plying on the city's roads across the city, most old vehicles which were supposed to be phased out to check pollution by now aren't seen to have gone off the road.
On Thursday, a large number of panicked citizens- majority of them hapless two wheeler riders were seen frantically looking for pollution checking outlets in city's scores of petrol pumps to get their certificates post the drive to avoid being fined for not having a certificate but in vain.
On the other hand, notably, the State Government in June last year had announced that Chhattisgarh is set to ban commercial vehicles which are more than 10 to 12 years old —mainly scores of diesel fuel powered autos, trucks and buses- the key culprits in spreading pollution.
Buses plying on long-distance routes which are more than 12-years-old are already denied permits. The trucks which are more than 10 years old will not be given permits to ply on the roads, officials had informed.
Chief Minister Raman Singh had convened a meeting of senior government officials in a meeting of Chhattisgarh Environment Protection Board (CECB) at his official residence last year.
Singh, during the meeting had stated that the State Government would undertake stern measures to control pollution in the interest of the people of the State.
The truck owners will be given one-year period to buy new vehicles. Registration of more than 8-year-old vehicles will also not be done in Chhattisgarh. No permits will be given to autos which are more than 10 years old in Raipur, Durg- Bhilai and Bilaspur, the meeting was informed.
The auto rickshaw owners will be given one-year period to convert the autos to e-Rickshaws. After this expiry period, the owners will not be given permits, it was decided last year.
The Chief Minister had also called upon the senior officers to prepare a master plan to curb pollution. Several crucial decisions were taken at the meeting. Proposals to ban old vehicles and shutting down industrial units spreading pollution were accepted.
He had stated that Online monitoring of pollution levels of industrial units should be done. If the managements of units violate guidelines more than twice a month then steps should be taken to close down the defaulting industrial units.
Singh had directed the Raipur district administration officials also to prepare a master plan to handle solid waste material soon.
On the other hand, it was also informed in the meeting that the squatters near the railway tracks will be provided with domestic gas connections free- of- cost under the Prime Minister Ujjwala Projects to curb coal induced smoke pollution. A survey will be conducted soon in this regard, it was informed in the meeting.
The Chief Minister had ordered the officials to launch a survey soon. There was also a plan to plant 23.90 lakh saplings in the monsoon season in the capital last year.
He had directed the officers to install a Sewage Treatment Plant in Raipur to treat domestic polluted water.
It may be recalled that a two-member team of experts from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mumbai was to also study pollution levels in 25 kms periphery of the city.
The IIT team comprising Prof Anil K .Dixit and Indrakant Jha had visited Raipur on June 13 last year.
The experts had an interaction with the local industrialists and the officials of the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board (CECB) at new Circuit House here after their arrival.
The experts informed that this is a preliminary round of their meeting. In the meeting held, a proforma was handed over to the local industrialists by the experts to seek necessary information for conducting the study.
During the meeting, CECB Member Secretary Devendra Singh had appealed to the industrialists to carry out as much plantations as possible by planting atleast 1,000 saplings in one acre of land.
The IIT team had informed in the meeting that the study would be carried out in three phases- In the first phase- 5 kms of city’s periphery will be studied followed by 10 kms and then 25 kms of the periphery.
Chhattisgarh is among 16 other states in the country which had implemented advanced automated solutions to deal with environmental and pollution related applications and approvals, the Central Government had informed last year.
These solutions provide hassle free, 24 X 7 'e-access' to businesses to apply online, track applications, file returns and statements and get online permissions under various Acts and regulations.
The States include-- Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has submitted a report of annual average air pollution (P.M. 10) of 46 prominent towns and cities on February 7 this year on the floor of the Parliament, officials informed.
The report mentions that there had been a drastic fall in air pollution levels in Raipur city from 2014 to 2016, they informed.
The CPCB releases the details of air pollution at regular intervals. The report states that in 2014, the average pollution levels was 325 micrograms per cubic meters, in 2015 it was 190 micrograms per cubic meters and in 2016 it was 150 micrograms per cubic meters , officials mentioned.
It may be mentioned here that Chief Minister Raman Singh had directed the concerned Department officials to monitor the air quality standard.
Housing and Environment Department Principal Secretary Aman Kumar Singh had stated that the concerned authorities had prepared a master plan to improve the air quality of Raipur and the entire State.
According to the Protocol, Ambiotic Air Quality Monitoring Station is operating in Raipur city.
The pollution in and around Raipur is mainly due to the industrial pollutants, automobiles pollution, construction related, pollution due to burning of waste material. The Transport and Police departments are monitoring the pollution created by automobiles.
At the construction sites, officials are ordered to install cloth nets. Stern action is being taken against those who violate the pollution prevention guidelines, officials informed.
Steps are being taken by the Municipal Corporation authorities to monitor burning of garbage in the open spaces.
The industrial units had planted 3.50 lakh saplings in the Capital Industrial region which also helped in drastic reduction of pollution levels.
