The House Committee on environmental pollution, which met for the first time under the chairmanship of committee head Speaker Surjya Narayan Patro here on Monday, discussed future plans and programmes for protection of the environment and emphasised on pollution control.
It discussed issues such as steps taken by ULBs and PR and DW Department for disposal of waste management, prevention and control pollution and enforcement of the environmental laws. Issues related to pollution in mining areas, rivers and Chilika Lake were also discussed.
Forest and Environment Principal Secretary Mona Sharma, PCCF Sandeep Tripathy, Special Secretary K Murugeson and State Pollution Control Board (SPCB)Member Secretary Debidutta Biswal apprised the committee about the activities taken by the department.
The committee was told that the SPCB is looking after implementation of the environmental acts. A fly ash resource centre has been set up for management and utilisation of fly ash in the State. Initiatives have been taken for bulk utilisation of other industrial solid wastes.
In order to augment the capacity of the Board in the area of coastal environment monitoring, the World Bank-assisted Coastal Zone Management Project is being implemented, they informed.
Continuous online monitoring of stack emission and ambient air quality in mines and industrial areas is being made.
Star rating programme in collaboration with the EPIC-India and online application processing for obtaining consent to establish and operate hazardous and bio-medical waste have been started.
The committee decided to constitute five sub-committees. While three sub-committees would look into the environmental pollution of all natures in all districts and submit report to the House Committee, the fourth one would examine the action taken reports of the committee presented in the House so far.
The fifth sub-committee would suggest rules, regulations, laws, instructions for better protection of forest and environment in the State.