Various cities of Chhattisgarh are facing acute pollution despite being a State with forest cover of 44.21 per cent, said leader of State Congress legislative Party (ClP) TS Singhdeo in a letter to CM Raman Singh here on Sunday.
Citing media reports, Singhdeo said that in a fresh report released by the State government, the level of pollution in Raipur is more than that of Beijing in China. The particulate matter (ppm) 2.5 level normally is around 250 to 300 microgram for every square meter. However at Jaistambh Chowk locality of Raipur and at Siltara and Birgaon, it has crossed 400 microgram which is a matter of concern, he added.
The rising pollution level has started yielding harmful effects. The smoke produced from factories and vehicles have begun to affect agriculture and public health. It is also turning fertile land into barren ones. The water in river and ponds is also becoming poisonous which is taking toll on human as well as animals, he wrote in the letter.
Failure in effective implementation of various efforts made by the State Government is one of the important reasons behind this setback even though Chhattisgarh has 44.21 per cent forest cover, he said.
Most of the industries in the State do not have ESP units and departmental officers do not inspect factories and emissions from vehicles are not checked, he charged.