The Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board is organizing an Exhibition and Technology Demonstration on Air, Water Pollution and Waste Management on June 5 at Hotel Peterhoff, Shimla on World Environment Day 2019. The exhibition is proposed to create public awareness on the issues pertaining to growing air and water pollution and waste management across the State, a statement issued here said.
Last year, the State Board launched PAPA (Pollution Abating Plants Abhiyan) on the occasion of World Environment Day 2018 across seven non-attainment towns and one industrial cluster of Una. The programme won the SKOCH Environment award for the State and over two lakhs of air pollution abating plants had been planted across the State.
As Central Pollution Control Board Delhi declared seven river stretches of Himachal Pradesh as polluted based on pollution load and priority levels. NGT subsequently directed the State Government to prepare Time Bound Action Plan to clean the polluted stretch. These river stretches are Sukhna Nallah, Markanda River, Sirsa River, Ashwani River, Beas River, Giri River, Pabbar River
In addition to other regulatory measures, the State Board has decided to launch WaPIS (Water Purification Invigorative Scheme) on June 5. Himachal Chief Minister, Jai Ram Thakur will launch the programme.
Under this project, 38 types of plant species have been identified to treat waste water of various river streams.
In addition technological demonstration such as compost technologies, display of poly-bricks, cow dung made pots etc., will be demonstrated in the exhibition. In the above exhibition pollution abating outdoor and indoor plants will also be demonstrated and sold to the general public.