Minister for Forests, Ecology & Environment, Bali Bhagat has called upon the J&K State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) to streamline its functioning and strengthen the laboratory infrastructure for achieving the tangible results in a time bound manner.While reviewing the overall functioning of the SPCB at a meeting of officers held here today, the Minister said that the Board has a peculiar mandate directly connected with the health of the people; therefore, the functionaries of the organization must put in their best efforts to achieve the objective. He stressed the need for evolving innovative mechanism to implement the Central and State Pollution Control Acts to maintain a healthy environment in Jammu and Kashmir. He called upon the functionaries of the Organization to ensure complete transparency, accountability and efficiency at all levels and improve the delivery system on ground.Stressing the need for close coordination between various agencies to achieve the common goal, the Minister said that collective efforts between the departments like industry, local bodies, and transport can ensure better results.
He said these agencies must interact with each other and review the progress of various common issues periodically to address these expeditiously.
He directed the Chairman SPCB to take up the issues pertaining to the scientific disposal of solid waste management and Bio-Medical waste, setting up of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in Jammu and Srinagar cities with the Jammu and Srinagar Municipal Corporations for addressing these on priority. He also directed for immediate measures to upgrade the infrastructure of two main laboratories located at Jammu and Srinagar cities.While reviewing the status of issuing NOCs to the aspiring industrialists in the State, the Minister directed the concerned to immediately evolve the on-line system to ensure transparency and overcoming the delays in granting these documents.
He also directed for regular inspection of industrial units to ensure pollution norms. The issues related to the day-to-day functioning of the SPCB, including finalization of rules, constitution of DPCs, and regularization of adhoc employees also came under discussion. He asked the Principal Secretary Forest to address these issues expeditiously.The Chairman SPCB, Abdul Razzak briefed the Minister about the functioning of the Organization and measures initiated to further improve the same.Principal Secretary Forests, Mr. R.K. Gupta, Member Secretary, SPCB Javed Iqbal and other officers of the organization were present in the meeting.Later, the Minister took round of the labs and various units of the SPCB and interacted with the employees.