PCB to spray water on roads to counter dust pollution

Kolkata: State Pollution Control Board (PCB) has decided to spray water mixed with Sodium Lignosulphonate to suppress dust on roads.

According to PCB officials, though the particulate matter (PM) 10 and PM 2.5 level stays within the national standard in summer and monsoon, the level goes high during winter.

One of the components, which increase the pollution level is dust on from roads. To reduce the pollution, PCB officials have come up with the idea of spraying water on the roads.

But to prevent water from evaporating fast, PCB officials have consulted chemical experts and decided to mix Sodium Lignosulphonate with water which would delay the evaporation process.

On Friday, during a programme on environmental pollution, PCB Chairman, Kalyan Rudra and member secretary, Rajesh Kumar inaugurated three water sprinkler vehicles which would ply 50 kilometre every day. Primarily, it has been decided that these vehicles will ply on the roads in the Eastern part of the city. More such vehicles will also be bought soon.

Rudra and Kumar further informed that PCB has already provided Rs six crore to Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) to procure 10 water tankers with sprinkler and 10 mechanical sweeping vehicles. For Howrah, PCB will provide with such vehicles soon.

Primarily, these vehicles will ply from Ruby Crossing on Eastern Metropolitan Bypass to Airport on VIP Road.

"Our aim is to reduce the pollution as much as possible. We have already taken several initiative for the cause," said Kumar.

During the programme, seven police personnel from Anandapur police station were awarded and appreciated for their efforts to check burning of leather waste. PCB is mulling to propose a plan for deployment of police personnel to act against pollution related offences under leadership of a Superintendent of Police (SP) or Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) ranked officer.

On Wednesday, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) instructed the Director General of Police (DGP) to nominate a SP or DCP for Kolkata and Howrah exclusively to deal with the issue of noise pollution.

Police officials in Kolkata and Howrah will report to the SP or DCP (Noise Pollution) regarding offences pertaining to noise pollution.

The concerned SP or DCP must hold meetings with police officials within different jurisdictions to deal with issue of noise pollution.

Though NGT did not instruct deployment of any other police personnel for the issue, PCB is mulling to prepare a team which would work under the SP or DCP (Noise Pollution).

The team may consist of three Deputy Superintendent Police (DSP), five inspectors, 10 Sub-Inspectors, 15 Assistant Sub-Inspectors and 50 Constables if the proposal gets accepted.