WB-ENVIRONMENT-STEPS

West Bengal Environment minister

Suvendu Adhikary Wednesday said construction firms and

agencies have been asked to cover construction areas to

prevent dust particles from spreading in the air in the city

and surrounding areas.

The dust generated during construction of buildings

was the principal reason for particualate matter hanging on

air during November to March, he said.

Adhikary told a press meet that only three parameters

of environment - PM 10 (particulate matter), PM 2.5

(particulate matter) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) - remained

non-compliant while nine other parameters were compliant in

the city and surrounding areas.

The nine compliant parameters included SO2, Ozone, CO,

Ammonia, Benzene, Lead, Arsenic and Nickel, he said.

The minister said a three-pronged action plan has been

launched to address the issue.

As the first step the department, in collaboration

with West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB), would

monitor the construction activity of buildings and roads and

ask for wrapping the construction areas/buildings with

geo-textile fabric, install dust barriers which will be

appropriate for the location, he said.

At a meeting earlier in the day between the body of

private real estate firms CREDAI, HRBC and the minister and

Environment officials, the firms were asked to apply water

prior to levelling of earth or any other earth moving activity

to keep the soil moist throughout the process.

"We are committed in ensuring a 100 per cent clean

environment and you will see the three non-compliant

environment parameters also coming to favourable situations by

2019 November," Adhikary said stressing environment pollution

was not so alarming as being projected in certain quarters.

As part of the second step, to curb vehicular

pollution 15-year old commercial vehicles were being totally

stopped from entering the city from January 8, 2019 following

a transport department circular issued on December 31, 2018,

the minister said.

As part of the third step, the Kolkata Police in a

circular prevented burning of firewood, tyre, straw and ten

teams were constituted forming members of KP, PCB to undertake

continuous raids in different parts of the city, he said.

"As part of our aim to stop waste burning and solid

burning, we have formed the teams which will undertake raids

in different zones. But we will provide the people, associated

with small roadside business, incentives so that they can

start business with alternative resources," he said.

Adhikary said the government has also stopped waste

burning at one point of Dhapa dumping ground and burning of

waste at the other point will also be stopped soon, to stop

accumulation of particulate matter in air.

He said all the three action plan will fall in place

by March 31 this year and the "results will be seen by next

winter as we will act on war footing."

The minister said the department will install 10

devices which will suck dust particles at ten points of the

city and five more automated air monitoring stations across

the city by March 31. There are presently two automated

monitoring stations at Victoria Memorial and Rabindra Bharati

University, B T Road.