Sponge iron units should use PCDs:state environment minister

Durgapur, Apr 14 (UNI) The department of Parliamentary Affairs and Environment in West Bengal today directed several sponge-iron units at Asansol-Durgapur region to use pollution control devices (PCDs).

According to official sources, these units were not operating their air pollution control devices, despite instructions of the state pollution control board (PCB), thereby emitting poisonous gases into the environment.

During a workshop on Industrial Pollution and Environmental Issues at Durgapur, the state environment minister Sailen Sarkar, in-charge of environment, the PCB had earlier directed these units to install inter-locking system between the pollution control devices and their processing plants to ensure proper operation.

''Besides, care should be taken to control industrial constructions, judicious handling of hazardous and medical wastes, curbing emissions from vehicles, ensuring afforestation and protection of wetlands and water bodies,'' Mr Sarkar said.

He also recommended for the introduction of clean process technology for highly polluting industrial sectors like coke-oven plants along with water quality monitoring stations at major water intake points to check water quality,'' state PCB chairman Prof A N Basu said.

UNI