Panel to study air pollution causes in Chandrapur: Deotale

CHANDRAPUR: A study of various pollutions in the district and factors that attribute to air pollution has been taken up by a panel of scientists from NEERI and IIT Mumbai, to work out a sustainable solution to the issue.

Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) would prepare an action plan based on the report of the scientists from National Environmental Engineering Institute (NEERI) and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) to implement proper control measures on pollution, state environment minister Sanjay Deotale told mediapersons here yesterday.

The report is likely to be received by February next year, he said.

"During a survey of various areas around Chandrapur and Wani in Yavatmal district by the team of scientists, it was observed that most of the air pollution was caused due to transportation of various materials by heavy vehicles plying on roads, adulteration of diesel in vehicles, apart from industries and domestic use of coal," Deotale said.

The scientists have collected samples for analysis to prepare their report on the issue, he said, while stressing that the observations do not imply that industries including cement factories, thermal power stations, paper mills, etc in the area could be given a clean chit on pollution.

Digital display boards highlighting the levels of various air pollutants like sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, etc in the ambient air shall be installed near Udyog Bhavan here in the near future for the convenience and awareness of the people of the city.

The minister also stressed that a long term plan for restricting Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) on dumping of over-burden from its open cast coal mines is underway.