While Chhattisgarh government is busy making claims of taking several steps for curbing pollution across the state (particularly in the state capital), a data recently released by WHO claims that Raipur is more polluted than the national capital. Similarly, Gwalior has also been included in the list of city more polluted than Delhi.
The organization has examined air pollution level in around 1600 cities across the world, which includes eight Indian cities (Raipur, Gwalior, Allahabad, Patna, Ludhiana, Kanpur, Lucknow and Firozabad). The organization has examined permissible limits of pollutants in air in these cities. In its report, WHO claims that air pollution is one of the five most causes for deaths in India and number of deaths due to respiratory diseases increases across the world. The administrative steps taken in India to deal with the problem is not satisfactory and long term action plan to control the situation.
Aiming to control pollution level across Chhattisgarh, the state government has recently stopped production in 44 rolling-mills operational in the state capital. Likewise, the government has directed operators of rolling mills to ensure installation of Online Emission Monitoring System (OEMS) in mills so that air quality could be improved. Recently, the government has shots notice to around 60 automobile showrooms for allegedly violating environment norms. The government has shuts two industries operational in Raipur and also initiated moves for replacement of old diesel-operated auto-rickshaw with e-rickshaw.
“Vehicular traffic contributes around 45-53 percent to air pollution in urban areas of Raipur and Bhilai, industrial units (28-32 percent), biomass burning (22-26 percent) and construction activities (12-18 percent). Likewise, emission from power plant in Bhilai-3 and Bhilai Steel Plant makes huge contribution to pollution level and the government should take necessary steps to control it,” said Professor of Pt Ravi Shankar Shukla University and Fulbright Research Fellow Shams Parvez.
According to Parvez, the government should take necessary steps to control these factors contributing to air pollution. To curb vehicular pollution, the government should enhance the quality of roads which would reduce pollution due to friction between vehicles and road.
Besides, the government should make arrangement of CNG fuel for replacing diesel operated commercial and passenger vehicles which recorded massive increases in the state. To control biomass pollution, the government should direct municipal corporations, councils and other civic bodies to constitute committee at colony level which in turn will be taking necessary moves to prevent the practice of garbage disposal by burning it.