Chief Minister Raman Singh has appealed to the people of the State to actively participate in conserving the environment, saying that cleanliness and environment complement each other.
In his message to public, on the eve of World Environment Day, Singh said in this modern era of increasing population and fast industrial development, maintaining clean and healthy environment has become a big challenge for all the countries around the world. In this scenario, it is our social, moral and national responsibility to conserve natural resources such as forests, mountains and rivers.
The Chief Minister said that plants and trees play an important role in maintaining ecological balance. Hence, it is necessary to pay attention on plantation and nurturing of plants and trees.
Singh said that global warming is disturbing the balance of weather cycle across the world. It is the need of the hour to take serious action on environment conservation.
He emphasized on the need of public awareness regarding the cause.
The Chief Minister expressed hope that on this occasion of World Environment Day, citizens will pledge to take every possible step towards environment conservation.
Notably, the Chhattisgarh government has already started working on ‘cluster wise’ shifting of polluting industrial units to regions away from Raipur city.
No more new polluting industrial units will be established around Raipur city and in public interest, such existing industrial units would be either shifted or shut down.
This was decided during a meeting chaired by Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Housing and Environment, N Baijendra Kumar and industry representatives of Urla-Siltara Industrial Area held herein March this year.
During the meeting, industry representatives were informed about State government’s proposal for shifting of pollution causing industrial units to some other place and discussion was held over the issue in the meeting.
“Considering the environmental pollution, cluster wise shifting of industries has been proposed,” the ACS said while instructing them to seriously comply with environmental rules.
The industry owners were directed to strictly use ESP for lowering smoke emission, so that people may be able to get relief from the smoke problem.
“For decreasing pollution level in Raipur city, the State government has begun the discussion for shifting pollution causing industries located in Urla and Siltara to some other place,” he said, adding, pollution causing industries will no longer be supported.
“Whatever the process the government is going to adopt will be transparent, however, your suggestions in developing criteria for the same would be important,” the ACS had told the industry representatives.
The way Korba Action Plan was prepared and implemented, a similar kind of plan needs to be prepared for industries around Raipur. Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board will keep an eye on it, he said.
Notably, to cite an example, the Chhattisgarh government is betting big on not just developing Naya Raipur as a ‘Smart City’ with ultra modern town planning, its thrust on inviting non-core sector investors to set up base is receiving an equal share of undivided attention, officials stated.