CM asks PCB to act against erring ULBs

Hyderabad, Oct 24 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today directed the state Pollution Control Board (PCB) to issue notices to Municipal Corporations and Urban Local Bodies (ULB) which were not taking steps in solid waste management.

Reviewing the activities of Environment, Forests, Science&Technology Departments with the Minister for Forests S Vijayarama Raju and senior officials here, he directed the APPCB to prosecute officials for not implementing procedures of waste management.

An official release said Mr Reddy was particular in eliminating the thin polythene bags especially those less than 20 microns.

He directed the APPCB Member Secretary Rajeshwar Tiwari to continue raids on polythene cover producing units and shops. He directed the officials to take action against violators under 'Implementation of Plastic Manufacture, Sales and Usage Rules'.

Of the 444 units inspected so far, 16 were found having violated the norms and a penalty of Rs 25,000 each was imposed on them. Two recycling units were directed to stop operations, officials said.

Under vehicular pollution, Mr Reddy was informed that Hyderabad was one of the cities being monitored by the Supreme Court and a group of ministers was constituted to monitor the implementation of action plan (submitted by the Supreme Court).

The main issue covered under the action plan was phasing out of 15 year-old commercial vehicles, introduction of alternate cleaner fuels like LPG, Bio-Diesel and CNG. It also proposed the APSRTC buses to comply with Euro-II standards, issuance of PUC certificates to vehicles, checking up of PUC centres, adulteration of fuels, strengthening of public transport system and action on defaulters.

The officials said 61 industries in Kattedan Industrial Estate, which were polluting the lake in the catchment areas of Noor Mohd Kunta, had been closed.

As directed by the Supreme Court Monitoring Committee (SCMC) all the infrastructure work for drinking water supply in 20 villages of Patancheru in Medak district was over, the officials said.

On the action taken report submitted by the state government to the Supreme Court Monitoring Committee, the SCMC had considered the report and sent an appreciation letter.

UNI SM JJ SK DB1957