Students’ hostels in urban areas of the State have emerged as another factor behind environment pollution.
large numbers of hostels run by educational institutions, private people are causing water and environment pollution on a large scale. However, there is no legal system to take stringent action against hostel promoters.
It is mandatory to take permission from the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) for construction of factories, hotels, medical buildings and apartments. The SPCB gives clear-cut directions to take steps so that the wastes released from the institutions, plants and apartments do not cause environment pollution. The permission is granted after verification of the concerned institutions.
Recently, the Pollution Control Board has started taking action against the hotels that are running illegally without taking permission from the authority.
They are being served notices, following which hotels and other illegal constructions are being sealed by the board.
However, no permission is required to construct and run students’ hostels. As there is no legal system for opening a hostel, house owners and educational institutions have started polluting the environment taking advantage of the opportunity, sources in the SPCB said.
Meanwhile, many educational institutions have sought permission from the SPCB to set up water purification plants to disinfect the waste water released from the institutions.
Notably, many educational institutions in Bhubaneswar have opened their hostels in crowded areas. They are running hostels in rented houses. Even, house owners are easily agreeing to give their houses on rent for money.
Around 100 students are accommodated in a building where three to four families with 15 to 20 members should stay. This has resulted in causing environment pollution.