All raw materials like iron ore, gypsum, coal, sponge iron and cement transported through roads in Chhattisgarh will have to use mechanically covered vehicles.
This decision was taken at the 47th meeting of the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board or CECB chaired by Chief Secretary R.P. Mandal on Thursday at Mahanadi Bhavan (Secretariat).
In case of non-availability of mechanically covered vehicles, the industries will be given a one-year period on the condition that all the raw materials and products transported are properly covered using tarpaulin or other appropriate material, an official communique said.
The meeting also decided that CECB's most modern Central Environmental Laboratory will be constructed by the Public Works Department at Sector 13, Nava Raipur.
The laboratory will have all facilities to measure the various environmental parameters. It would also have models on different environmental issues as exhibits to create public awareness.
A study of ratio of main sources of pollution and their carrying capacity of critical polluted industrial areas of Siltara and Urla in Raipur, Korba and Bhilai will be conducted through the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), National Institute of Technology (NIT) or National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur.
The proposal of a National Clean Air Quality Monitoring System was also sanctioned.
The proposal for installing a water quality monitoring system both upstream and downstream in five polluted rivers of the state was cleared.
CECB will also undertake renovation and environmental improvement of a few historically important ponds in Raipur, Bhilai-Durg and Bilaspur.