Shimla: Having to live and work under rising pollution levels in the industrial belts of Baddi, Barotiwala & Nalagarh, representatives of communities from the industrial belt along with NGOs have impressed upon Himachal Pollution Control Board (HPPCB) to rein in those responsible for it.
In a meeting with HPPCB chairman Kuldeep Pathania and member secretary Vineet Kumar here today, Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) members from Himparivesh and Himdhara made a detailed presentation on the issues that emerged at a public hearing held at Baddi on 5 April. The meeting was attended by scientific and law officers also.
Himdhara spokesman Rahul Saxena said that the key issues raised were related to severe air pollution, contamination of surface and ground water, indiscriminate dumping of hazardous waste, unregulated river bed mining, and their impacts.
Through visual documentation and presenting of secondary data, fact sheets on some of the most polluting units were presented before the board officials, said Saxena.
Shortcomings of HPPCB functioning were also pointed out, recommendations for stricter monitoring and regulatory mechanism were suggested, he added.
The delegation also called for an urgent need to regulate and monitor industrial pollution and strictly adhere to environmental norms, and take quick action against severely polluting industrial units.
The local delegation before the chairman flagged specific units responsible for release of unabated air, water and noise pollution that the residents had to have face every day in BBN Industrial cluster.
Chairman Kuldeep Pathania assured us that the issue of industrial pollution in BBN would be put before the HPPCB board, the problem would be collectively addressed and there would be a follow up meeting within 3 months, said the Himdhara spokesman.
