Pollution control a serious problem: Minister

New Delhi, Jul 10 (UNI) Controlling pollution was becoming complex and the challenges were multiplying as the country moved forward on a path of rapid economic development, Union Minister of State for Environment and Forest Namo Narain Meena said here today.

Speaking at the 15th meeting of Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his ministry, he said the government was working with different stakeholders in implementing the laws and regulations for controlling pollution.

The members, however, expressed concern over lack of coordination between the Centre and states. They also urged the authorities concerned to check global warming and climate change.

They also stressed the need of preserving virgin forests in the north-east region and providing alternate means of livelihood to the tribals who depend on these forests.

The minister said there was a good legal and administrative framework which monitors and implements different sets of laws. The ministry has also identified highly polluting industries for special measures to control pollution.

Mr Meena said his ministry was in close collaboration with industries for implementing the Charter on Corporate Responsibility for Environmental Protection (CREP) to involve highly polluting industries in promoting waste minimisation technologies and for adoption of cleaner technologies.

Expressing concern over the threats posed by polluted surface and ground water pollution, he said there were 1245 monitoring stations spread across the country which in collaboration with State Pollution Control Board control flow of untreated waste as well as industrial effluents into water bodies which includes ponds, lakes and rivers.

The minister told the members that the ministry had provided financial assistance on a substantial scale to State Governments and SPCBs to set up Common Effluent Treatment Plants (CETP) and Treatment Storage and Disposal Facilities (TSDF).

Elaborating on best global practices, Mr Meena said he was actively promoting the principles of three Rs i.e. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Steps were being taken to modify the Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Rules for encouraging recycling and reprocessing of hazardous waste.

The ministry has also taken initiatives to finalise the guidelines for environmentally sound management of Electronic Waste (E-waste) and mercury in Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs), said Mr Meena.

He said air pollution was being combated under National Air Quality Programme. There were 33 continuous air quality-monitoring stations in the country besides 342 manual monitoring stations.

A source appointment study was also being implemented in collaboration with various institutions like National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), The Energy Research Institute (TERI) and different IITs, he added.

Members of Parliament S S Ananta Nayak, Mahaveer Bhagora, Mani Charenamai, Basudeb Barman, Ramji Lal Suman, M Baburao and K E Ismail attended the meeting.

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