SPCB finds germs in coastal sea water

Puri, Apr 30 (UNI) Explosive growth of population in the coastal cities has adversely affected the ecology with small concentrations of germs traced in the coastal sea waters.

This was revealed by Orissa State Pollution Control Board(SPCB) Chairman L N Pattnaik while addressing a gathering during a seminar on 'protection of marine environment' organised jointly by the Beach Protection Council of Orissa and the Ministry of Earth Science here yesterday.

He said since there was little that could be done for the management of solid waste and treatment facility for urban waste, every day tonnes of waste materials from the cities were discharged into the sea water, polluting it heavily.

Mr Pattnaik, quoting a report, said there was no alarming condition regarding the presence of industrial toxins in the sea water. But he urged the NGOs to enlighten the people about application of environment laws and the need for protection of the environment.

Additional Director of the Ministry of Environment and Forest Dr V P Upadhyaya expressed grave concern over the mushrooming growth of illegal constructions in the CRZ prohibited areas along the Orissa coast.

He said chemical industries and hospitals, operating along the coast, had often flouted the environment laws adding that the Environment and Forest Ministry had asked the state government to initiate legal actions against the defiant units.

Senior environmental expert of SPCB Dilip Kumar Behera said a list of polluting industries in Puri, Paradip and Gopalpur had been prepared. They were asked to install adequate waste water treatment units in their industries within a stipulated time.

Puri Konark Development Authority Chairman Bipin Dash and Puri Civic Body Chairman Gourahari Pradhan stressed the need to protect the underground sweet water zone, the only drinking water source of the city, at all cost.

Both of them assured to extend all cooperation to make Puri beach a clean and encroachment-free area. Puri sub-collector P K Sarangi said criminal cases had been initiated against a number of polluting hotels and commercial establishments while some others were issued closure notices for flouting pollution guidelines.

UNI