State govt taking measures to check pollution: Minister

Environment Minister Sudarsan Ghosh Dastidar on Friday said the state government has been taking adequate measures to check the air pollution caused by smoke from various industrial areas. 

He was addressing a gathering at the ICC Environment Excellence Award 2015 organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce at a city hotel. 

“West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) has been installing devices in the industrial belts to check the spread of the airpollution. The devices will monitor the pollution level in the air particularly in the industrial areas. WBPCB has been vigilant to check water pollution along the river Hooghly. It has taken up various measures so that industrial pollutants do not flow into the river,” Dastidar said. Speaking at the programme, the minister also stressed on the importance of utilising solar power. 

He said: “The government is planning to set up solar power systems using indigenously built technology. Innovations are required to utilise solar power in the state. We have also been working on the water conservation. There had been wastage of water in the households. Awareness programmes will be held to check the wastage of water. Various municipalities have been instructed to keep a surveillance on this.”

Govenor Keshari Nath Tripathi, who graced the occasion, said that checking water and air pollution must be a top priority. Industries should join hands with the government to check pollution. The manufacturing industries should keep in mind that the pollutants do not mix in water. 

WBPCB chairman Kalyan Rudra said various municipal corporations have been instructed to ensure that the industrial pollutants do not flow into the Hooghly river. 

Private companies like Emami, OCL, ITC and CESC have bagged environment awards in the programme.