Pollution of river yamuna

Chandigarh, May 31- Haryana Government has taken up the issue of pollution in river Yamuna with Chief Ministers of neighbouring Delhi and Uttar Pradesh and this being an inter-state pollution problem, it has also impressed upon the Central Pollution Control Board to direct these two State Governments to control pollution in river Yamuna. While disclosing this here today, Haryana Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Mrs Kiran Choudhry said in a press conference that Haryana government has sent a written communication to Chief Ministers of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh urging them take effective steps to control pollution in river Yamuna in their territory as this river is badly polluted in Delhi territory. She said that 21 drains of Delhi and one drain of Uttar Pradesh that is Shadra drain carry untreated or partially treated effluent into river Yamuna.She said that the quality of Agra and Gurgaon canals was badly affected because of the pollution caused by Delhi and Uttar Pradesh in river Yamuna. Mrs Choudhry said that Haryana State Pollution Control Board has been monitoring the quality of water in river Yamuna by regularly taking samples of its own and periodically jointly with the Central Pollution Control Board. She said that the Haryana Government was conscious about its commitment for clean environment in the State and had taken effective measures to control pollution in river Yamuna. The quality of river Yamuna at village Palla on Haryana-Delhi border is very good since the BOD level is well within the permissible limits which ranges from 1.44 to 2.76 milligram per liter against the permissible limit of three milligram per liter. She said that Central Pollution Control Board has recommended that the waste of plastic carry bags can be used for carpeting and construction of roads. Technical know how for this purpose to construct road by using 5 to 10 per cent of waste plastic has been suggested to the Engineer-in-Chief, Public Works (Building and Roads) Department to use plastic waste in construction and carpeting of roads. As waste plastic carry bags are littered at public places which causes clogging and choking of drainage, this step would not only help and ensure clog free flow in the drainage but would also lend some strength and durability to roads besides truncating the cost on bitumen. She said that with a view to form a comprehensive policy for management of Bio Medical Waste, the Pollution Control Board has convened a meeting of all Chief Medical Officers, Director General Health Service, Haryana and also invited Directors of PGIMER Chandigarh, Government Medical Hospital, Sector-32, Chandigarh and PGIMES, Rohtak in the first week of June, 2008 . The policy would include prevention of recycling of used needles, safe incineration of infectious bio-medical waste and scientific disposal through common service provider which should have all facilities such as incinerator (double chambered), shredder, needle destroyer as per the guidelines of Central Pollution Control Board. The policy and system to dispose of Bio Medical Waste would be environmentally sound and would not cause any dent on the environment. She said that State Government has gone a step ahead in restricting the use of plastic carry bags and encouraging recycling of waste plastic carry bags by issuing a notification dated January 15, 2008 wherein minimum thickness of plastic carry bag has been raised from 20 microns to 30 microns with minimum size of 8"x12". Awareness is being created among the general public by issuing advertisement through press and organizing seminars involving school childrens through Eco Clubs. She said that the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, has, vide Environment Impact Assessment notification dated September 14, 2006 made it mandatory for building construction projects including Shopping Malls, Commercial Complexes, Housing Complexes and Townships having built up area of 20,000 sq. mtrs. or more to obtain environmental clearance under the said notification.The Central Government has granted environmental clearance to such projects after considering various environmental concerns such as rain water harvesting, use of solar panels, green belt, sewage treatment plant,> noise control in Diesel Generator (DG) sets. She said that now the Central government has constituted the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority under the Chairpersonship of Mrs. Promilla Issar, Chief Secretary Haryana(Retd.) and State Level Expert Appraisal Committee vide notification dated April 21, 2008 which will be granting environmental clearance to such projects. The said authority would take care of various environmental issues before granting environmental clearance such as provision of sewage treatment plant, provision of 25 per cent area as green belt, proper parking arrangements, noise and emission control in DG sets, rain water harvesting, recycling of treated waste water. This will ensure that ground water does not get adversely affected to a great extent. She said that the Board has created dynamic website to display latest NOC Status of various projects so as to facilitate the entrepreneurs. The Board has know constituted a Single Technical Advisory Committee to examine the NOC cases which will include the representative of Pollution Control Board, Environment Department, Town and Country Planning Department and Forest Department. She said that under the scheme of National Green Corps sponsored by Union Ministry of Environment and Forests,about 4000 Eco clubs have been formed in various schools in the State. These clubs help students in understanding various aspects of environment and its importance in conserving natural resources. Regional officers have been advised to visit at least one school or college for showing films or deliver talks on Environment to create awareness among students, she added.