Chandigarh: Haryana Environment Minister, Rao Narbir Singh said that although the manufacture and use of plastic polythene has been banned in the state since 2013, its continued use has become a major cause of pollution. He directed officers of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) to launch a comprehensive special awareness campaign to educate the general public about the harmful effects of polythene.He said that active participation of the Public Health Engineering Department, Irrigation and Water Resources Department, Industries and Commerce Department, and Urban Local Bodies Department should also be ensured in this campaign. The Minister directed that the campaign should begin from urban areas and a detailed action plan should be prepared and submitted within one month.
Rao Narbir Singh was chairing a review meeting of the functioning of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) at his office here today. The meeting was attended by Chairman, HSPCB, Sh. Vineet Garg, Additional Chief Secretaries and designated nodal officers of the concerned departments.
The Environment Minister directed that regional officers of the Pollution Control Board must personally inspect industrial units. He directed that when applications for setting up industries or for NOC’s are received on the online portal, all objections should be raised at one time by the concerned regional officer. Repeatedly raising objections unnecessarily harasses industrial entrepreneurs and forces them to make multiple visits to the Board. Such situations must be stopped under all circumstances.
Expressing concern over major industrial drains discharge, he directed that work related to CETPs and STPs should be expedited. He also issued specific directions to pay special attention to STPs in Rewari, Bawal, and Dharuhera.
The Minister said that around 25–26 villages near the Masani Barrage face waterlogging problems. He directed the Irrigation Department to prepare a plan to drain this water through pipelines and channel it towards the river flowing into Rajasthan. The treated water should be reused for agriculture. This will greatly benefit farmers of the Khol and Bawal blocks and also help address the shortage of canal water to a large extent.
Rao Narbir Singh made it clear that even before renewal of licenses of Red, Orange, and Green category industries, regional officers must conduct physical inspections at the site. Completing formalities from the office through intermediaries will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
During the meeting, Member Secretary, HSPCB, Sh. Yogesh Kumar assured the Minister that he would personally inspect STPs located in Panipat, Sonipat, Jhajjar, and Gurugram in the coming week and would also hold review meetings with the concerned regional officers.
