Make people aware about the contributions of urban forests for a healthy life of denizens, directed Chief Secretary Suresh Mahapatra to the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) while chairing a Board meeting.
Mahapatra said the urban forests like Bharatpur sanctuary, Ekamra Kanan, Jayadev Vatika and Chandaka have immensely contributed towards enrichment of human life.
He directed the Board to strictly enforce the pollution control measures in the aluminum smelter plants near Hirakud. He directed to ensure zero discharge of the fluoride by these industries to the reservoir. The Board was also asked to conduct a detailed study on the waste discharge by these industries and its impact on the wild life.
Other important matters discussed in the meeting included implementation of the clean air programme in Ekamra Kshetra (Bhubaneswar) and development of the Geo database for environmental mapping in critically polluted areas. It was decided that out of several global level air pollution management models, the technique of less emission zone (LEZ) would be more effective for Bhubaneswar.
SPCB Member-Secretary Dr K Murugesan said Geo database for environmental mapping and web-based GIS application have been rolled out in Talcher. The system would also be put in place for the industrial areas in Rourkela, Keonjhar, Baleswar, Kalinganagar and Angul.
