LATEST NEWS: Take necessary steps for tackling major environmental problems- Vini Mahajan directs all the departments

Take necessary steps for tackling major environmental problems- Vini Mahajan directs all the departments

– Reviews issues related to environmental problem in the state

Chandigarh, March 16-

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Punjab Chief Secretary Mrs Vini Mahajan today directed all the departments to take all the necessary measures for checking major environmental problems viz. air and water river pollution along with ensuring waste management across the state.

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Chairing a meeting to review issues related to the environment in the State of Punjab, the Chief Secretary reiterated the firm commitment of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh led Punjab government to make state clean, green and pollution free. She said that as a part of ongoing works to clean the river waters in Punjab, the local Government has initiated works of worth Rs 2140 crore to mitigate water pollution in the rivers. Mrs Mahajan said that this includes laying of sewerage system and installation of Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs).

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The Chief Secretary said that apart from this, in-situ remediation in the drains of 13 river towns will commence shortly and will be completed within six months. She said that this will primarily be undertaken in those towns where presently sewerage system does not exist. Mrs Mahajan further brought out that the work of 38 STPs being installed in the river towns shall be allotted very shortly.

The Chief Secretary said to further control pollution due to industrial effluents, one CETP of 15 MLD capacity has already been installed and two CETPs of 40 and 50 MLD capacity will be installed by June 2021. She said that this will help in reduction of pollution in river Satluj. Mrs Mahajan further said that in another initiative to rejuvenate the village ponds, the Rural Development Department has accomplished work to rejuvenate in 223 village ponds and 1062 ponds are currently being rejuvenated by adopting Seechewal/Haripur model within coming three months.

The Chief Secretary further said that in another novel initiative it has been decided to launch a new scheme to phase out old diesel operated Autos with e-auto rickshaws in the city of Amritsar. She said that as per the proposed scheme 7500 diesel operated Autos are to be replaced e-Autorickshaws, for which a subsidy of Rs 75000 will be provided to each Auto owners. Mrs Mahajan said that besides mitigating the air pollution, this will help in reduction in running cost by 66% adding that this model will also be replicated in other major towns also.

The Chief Secretary said that state is preparing two important policies namely “Faecal Sludge & Septage Management Policy” and “e-Waste Management Policy”. She said that these policies are in advance stages and are likely to be implemented in next three months. Mrs Mahajan envisioned that these policies will go a long way in making Punjab clean, green and pollution free state.

Prominent amongst those present in the occasion Principal Secretary Local government Mr Ajoy Kumar Sinha, Financial Commissioner Rural Development Smt Seema Jain, Principal Secretary Transport Mr K Siva prasad, Secretary Environment Mr Rahul Tiwari, Chairman PPCB Dr SS Marwaha and Director Environment Mr Saurabh Gupta.