Step to check air pollution: Food stall owners to get LPG cylinders

Kolkata: The State Pollution Control Board (PCB) has come up with an idea to encourage roadside food stall owners to use LPG for cooking instead of charcoal and kerosene.

On Saturday, PCB will hand over LPG cylinders along with accessories and double burner ovens to roadside food stall owners at Central Park in Salt Lake in presence of state Fire minister Sujit Bose, Mayor of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation, Krishna Chakraborty, PCB Chairman, Kalyan Rudra and Kumar.

According to sources, to reduce air pollution, an action plan has been taken which would be implemented in Kolkata, Salt Lake, Howrah, Barrackpore, Haldia, Asansol, Durgapur and Raniganj in phases.

Rajesh Kumar, member secretary of the PCB on Friday said during a survey that it has been found that 20 per cent of pollution in Howrah and Kolkata was due to burning of charcoal and other substances, which are being used as fuel for cooking.

"Our aim is to put a curb on burning of such substances. Civic bodies and the police are identifying those who are using charcoal and other substances. This sort of initiative will take place in Kolkata next," said Kumar.

He further said after this initiative is undertaken, PCB will emphasise on the pollution caused by old vehicles.

Following that, steps will be taken to check pollution caused by construction.

"It is not possible for us to check pollution at once. We have identified the causes and these causes will be attended one by one. For the success of the initiative every person must come forward and create awareness for a better future," Kumar said.