There is a need to take all possible measures to prevent JK’s environment and ecology getting polluted on a large scale.Coordinator, Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell, Tassaduq Mufti today said this during his meeting with senior officers of J&K State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) to discuss issues pertaining to pollution.
During the meeting, many concerns related to increasing pollution level in the environment were discussed in length including pollution caused by cement factories, brick kilns and stone crushers, pollution of water bodies by untreated sewage, untreated solid waste, status of Bio-Medical Waste Disposal, Solid Waste Management, impact of ban on plastic carry bags, Electronic Waste disposal, containment of drinking water sources by pesticides and waste of Sewage treatment plants, implementation of noise pollution code in sensitive areas, infrastructure put in place for water, air quality monitoring and others.
Members from civil society also raised various concerns to draw the attention of the government towards putting a check on activities leads to increase pollution level in the environment.
Terming Environment Pollution a threat to human as well as other living beings, Tassaduq Mufti asked the State Pollution Control Board (PCB) to work effectively and efficiently for eliminating industrial pollution, air pollution, water pollution and the over pollution in the ambience.
While discussing the issue of pollution caused by cement factories and brick kilns, officers of PCB informed the meeting that guidelines have been already issued to install on-line Continuous (24×7) Monitoring Devices for better monitoring.
Issue of brick kilns being operated illegally and contributing in releasing emissions in the air was discussed.
Further they said that the District Magistrate has conferred with the power to shut down the operations of brick kilns running illegally.
Tassaduq Mufti asked the PCB to provide inputs so that a mechanism can be put in place to check establishment of illegal brick kilns.
Discussing the issue of containment of water sources by Sewage treatment plant waste and other means, Tassaduq Mufti asked the concerned officers to take all necessary measures to save these water bodies from getting polluted.
PCB officers informed the meeting that monitoring of water quality is being done on regular basis and reports are being sent to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).