After Pithampur, Satna to get hazardous waste incinerator

BHOPAL: After Pithampur in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh might get a second incinerator and hazardous waste disposal plant in Satna. With rapid industrialization in Singrauli district, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's 100 days target for housing and environment department was to identify a spot close to the new industrial areas up north to set-up an incinerator.
"We have identified land in Satna district and have sent a proposal to the district collector for its acquisition," said A A Mishra, member secretary to the state pollution board. "Once the proposal is cleared, work will start for construction of the incineration plant."
In the November 2013 elections, the BJP manifesto promised construction of 15 lakh affordable housing for rural and urban poor. As a pilot project, 100-days target for housing department was to construct 3,000 such LIG and EWS (Economically Weaker Section) houses as initial model under the Atal Ashray Yojana. The state Housing Board and the Infrastructure and Urban Development Authority were made responsible for implementation of the scheme. According to additional commissioner Housing Board, the department exceeded the target and constructed 3,200 such homes by April 30.
For conservation of big rivers, tributaries and other water bodies - pollution control board was asked to take concrete steps and ensure setting-up of waste pollution treatment plants in industries. It was said that a formula was to be drafted within 100 days so all new industries would fall under the new pollution control requirements which would make it mandatory for plants with industrial liquid waste to have their own treatment plants.
PCB authorities said they are in possession of data of polluting industries and a new method of licence application has been devised which will be online. Henceforth, licence application to industries will be accepted online while verification of their pollution treatment plants will be conducted on the field. Regular monitoring will be done and the status of the treatment plants updated. Till April 30, approximately 40 industrial units have been instructed to set-up their treatment plants. Twenty-one factories in Mandideep industrial area in Bhopal have been issued notices for air pollution.
To arrest level of pollution in Narmada river, the board was asked to set-up monitoring units at 21 spots. "Ever since the order was passed, those check points have been established and checking is being done regularly," member secretary A A Mishra said. Water samples from industrial areas, urban residential areas have been collected from all across the state. Vehicular pollution and sound in urban areas have also been measured for long-term planning to curb pollution.