Chandigarh, Oct 15 Haryana Minister Rao Narbir Singh on Thursday directed officials to ensure visible and effective pollution control measures across the National Capital Region (NCR), including Gurugram, even before the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) comes into force.
Chairing a meeting with officers of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) from Gurugram, Rewari, Nuh and Mahendragarh districts, Singh reviewed the progress of ongoing pollution control measures and issued directions for further improvements.
The Forest, Environment and Wildlife Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently directed improvements in civic amenities in Gurugram during a meeting with all MLAs of Haryana.
Singh said that, as a public representative, he was accountable to residents, making effective steps to control pollution and improve civic amenities necessary not only in Gurugram but across the NCR.
According to an official statement, the minister directed officers to ensure regular and effective monitoring of all measures being undertaken to control pollution.
He said HSPCB officials would submit weekly reports on pollution control measures and the progress made, enabling regular reviews and corrective action wherever required. Based on these reports, municipal corporations and the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) would also be directed to take effective measures.
Singh further directed that the number of Pollution Control Board officers and staff in NCR districts be increased to strengthen the identification of pollution sources, regular inspections and enforcement of prescribed norms.
He asked officials to pay particular attention to construction sites, ready-mix concrete (RMC) plants and road-cleaning arrangements to prevent air pollution.
The minister said the departments and officials concerned must work in coordination and ensure compliance with prescribed standards.
He also directed officials to collect samples from different locations under various pollution levels and corresponding categories, regularly monitor sewage treatment plants (STPs), and collect and test as many samples as possible from bulk waste generators.
Emphasising that merely taking action as a formality would not be sufficient to control pollution, Singh said regular monitoring, time-bound reviews and effective implementation of all measures must be ensured.
He also sought suggestions from officials attending the meeting on improvements required in the existing pollution control arrangements.
(PTI News)
