Jharkhand launches campaign to deal with air pollution in state

Making a case for maintaining digital data monitoring system of air pollution in Jharkhand, a state minister on Tuesday launched a year-long campaign against the menace. Jharkhand Food, Civil Supply and Consumer Affairs Minister Saryu Roy said an NGO will oversee the campaign aimed at spreading awareness about "increasing" air pollution across the state. A toll-free number, a WhatsApp contact and an e-mail id were also released for people to lodge complaints about air pollution in their respective areas, he told reporters here.

Roy said pollution levels are on the rise, particularly in intense industrial, transportation and mining areas, and emphasised the need for strict implementation of "Corporate Environment Responsibility (CER)", similar to that of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). As per the CER guidelines, corporate houses should install "real-time online air-pollution data monitoring system" in the public domain, which is "grossly overlooked", the minister said.

(With inputs from agencies.)