The State Government is committed to maintain pristine and salubrious environment in the State and would ensure that existing and new industrial units coming up in the State fulfil all the norms related to pollution control. This was stated by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while presiding over the meeting of Himachal Pradesh State Environmental Protection and Pollution Control Board, here today.Chief Minister said that it should be made mandatory for all upcoming industrial units to have pollution treatment plant. He said that the State Pollution Control Board should also ensure that all the existing Common Effluent Treatment Plants should function properly so that the water released downstream does not get polluted.Jai Ram Thakur said that special thrust should be laid on checking pollution in industrial towns like Baddi, Barotiwala, Nalagarh, Parwanoo and Kala Amb. He said that work on improvement in functioning of existing Common Effluent Treatment Plant at Baddi, with respect to, connecting the convergence pipes to treat 1.10 MLD waste water from industries falling in river Sirsa catchment must be completed, at the earliest.Chief Minister said that a proposal for setting up Common Effluent Treatment Plant at Kala Amb area in Sirmaur district, would provide much relief to the people of the area. He said that in addition to this, there was a proposal for setting up of Solid Waste Management facility at Kala Amb.
Jai Ram Thakur said that apart from water and solid waste pollution, concerted steps should also be taken to curb air pollution. He said that usually it had been felt that kutcha roads in industrial areas with heavy vehicular movement cause air pollution. He said that regular cleaning must be done of road dust and sprinkling of water on kutcha road through tankers. He said that trees should be planted along side roads and pucca pavements must be constructed along the roads. He said that efforts should also be made for developing green belts, gardens and parks in open areas so that people could be benefitted.Chief Minister also directed the concerned authorities for ensuring proper design and laying of sewerage lines besides ensuring their proper maintenance.Additional Chief Secretary Environment, Science and Technology R.D. Dhiman assured the Chief Minister that the State Pollution Control Board would ensure that pollution free environment of the State is preserved at all cost. He said that Board would not hesitate to take action against the defaulters.Member Secretary, State Pollution Control Board Aditya Negi conducted the proceedings of the meeting.Chief Secretary Dr. Shrikant Baldi, Additional Chief Secretary Industries Manoj Kumar, Principal Secretary PWD J.C. Sharma, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Ajay Kumar, Secretaries Dr. R.N. Batta and C. Paulrasu, Director Town and Country Planning Lalit Jain, Director Industries Hansraj and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.