Policy push for environment in MP

| | Bhopal
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Policy push for environment in MP

Friday, 17 January 2020 | Staff Reporter | Bhopal

Amid global efforts to arrest the scourge of climate change, Chief Minister Kamal Nath is leaving no stone unturned to reduce the carbon footprint in Madhya Pradesh.

Invigorating policy with a vision for the future, the state government, under Kamal Nath, has launched a raft of schemes and measures to maintain and nurture the fragile ecological balance in this biodiverse region.

Leading from the front the state government has banned single use plastics at public functions and ceremonies, and set a target to totally phase out this disposable packaging material by the year 2022.

Single use plastics are known to cause huge damage to the environment as they break down into microplastics and take thousands of years to decompose. Besides contaminating soil and water, disposable plastics further impact animal and avian life.

In a bid to curtail pollution caused by industries using furnace oil, the new policy makes it mandatory for such units to have an effective control over sulphur dioxide emissions before earning requisite permissions for use of the fuel.

Sulphur dioxide is a major air and water pollutant known to pose health risks to all forms of life. In humans, the pollutant causes various respiratory disorders.

Assessment of water quality of River Narmada is currently underway. Water from the river is being analysed along a 50-point index charted for the purpose.

The State Government is also analysing water quality of rivers along the inter-State borders and water intake points.

Putting in place a robust action plan for 22 polluted river stretches in the State, the Kamal Nath Government has constituted a river rejuvenation committee to oversee the restoration of water quality in these areas.

Implementation, steering and monitoring committees have been set up to ensure an improvement in ambient air quality in the six non attainment cities in the state.

Bio-monitoring of River Chambal is also being conducted simultaneously; the exercise aims to explore the various causes leading to the contamination of water in the river.

The unrelenting efforts recently came in for national acclaim when the Environment Planning and Coordination Organisation (EPCO) of the State Department of Environment was awarded the first prize of the National Water Mission for excellence in conducting the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Study in the state. EPCO was further adjudged the winner for the ‘Leadership in Urban Climate Action’ category under the Earth Care Award for conservation of Traditional water structures in Indore City.

Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) have been established in five major cities and several districts in the state. 52 district headquarters have also been provided with apparatus to map ambient air quality.

In a bid to heighten awareness and transparency, the state government provides accurate air, water and industrial pollution statistics to citizens through its website and a mobile application developed for the purpose.

Bringing in innovation, arrangements have been made for disposal of recyclable plastic waste in cement kilns. The move will result in cost saving benefits as it helps save huge amounts of coal. The state government expects to dispose at least 22710 metric tones of plastic waste through this method.

The State Government has also rolled out new provisions for monitoring the tracking and disposal of industrial waste, hazardous waste and e-waste.

A well-equipped microbiology laboratory has been established in the State Capital to study the efficacy of various pollution control schemes.  

Speaking of the developments, activists say robust and timely pollution control measures are imperative to not just human health but also the large forest cover in the state which is home to an astounding array of flora and fauna, animal and avian life.

The Forest Survey of India (FSI) in its recently published India State of Forest Report (ISFR) recorded an increase in the total forest cover in Madhya Pradesh.

The current forest expanse stands at 77,482.49 sq km or 25.14 percent of the total land area in the state while the previous report had measured it at 77,414 sq km or 25.11 percent. As per the report Madhya Pradesh has the largest area-wise forest cover in the country.

Enthused by the results, environmentalists say that the increase in forest cover is a result of timely intervention and sustained efforts.

They underline the need for a fluid and comprehensive environment policy which keeps up with the change in climate.

As per the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) Madhya Pradesh is among the leading states in the country for revising the State Action Plan on Climate Change.

Lauding the vision of Chief Minister Kamal Nath, the activists say that the inclusive policy and schemes reflect a deep understanding of the subject which otherwise tends to focus exclusively on urban or household pollution.

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