REASI: Deputy Commissioner, Charandeep Singh today chaired a meeting to discuss and review the District Environment Plan.
He took feedback from different departments, asked to conduct a thorough study to identify the exact pollution level in the district to facilitate formulation of the environment plan as per the NGT’s latest guidelines and the local needs.
The meeting discussed the plan in the light of solid, liquid, plastic, biomedical, e-waste management, water quality management and noise pollution monitoring and other activities.
Additional Deputy Commissioner, Abdul Star; DFO, Jyotsana Sarkar, Gurdev Kumar, GM DIC, Thakur Das, E.O M.C Reasi, CMO Dr Rajeev Sharma, CEO Mohd. Aziz, Xen PWD, Janak Raj and besides other officers attended the meeting.
The DC directed for separate collection of dry and wet wastes from the households and disposal of the same in conformity with laid down procedure of National Green Tribunal.
The Municipal bodies were directed to identify and notify waste dumping and collection sites within their respective municipal limits. The MC Katra was asked to ascertain the capacity requirement of Organic Waste Converter (OWC) so that the same could be recommended to the higher authorities.
While discussing the water quality management plan, Jal Shakti Department was asked for proper water quality monitoring .The concerned officer apprised D.C that water monitoring is being done at the Panchayat level. Anganwadi workers have been trained to check water quality and provided field testing kits.
About Air quality management plan, it was informed by the concerned authority that Pollution checking centers have been set up at Arnas, Pouni and Mahore.
For the biomedical waste management, the CMO was asked to expedite the construction of STPs and ETPs at the identified locations. The waste disposal in healthcare facilities as per norms was stressed upon including proper bar-coding
Taking stock of the E-waste management plan, the DC directed the MCs to make sure that e-waste was not collected and sold to scrap dealers and disposed of in a scientific manner. Further, he directed the concerned to identify the dumping points for the e-waste and convey the same to the public through proper installation of boards.
About the Plastic waste management, the DC directed the concerned to work in collaboration with NGOs and explore the possibility of substitution of the plastic bags with jute bags to minimise the use of plastic.
The Xen PWD was directed to identify the damaged land and carry out restoration and rehabilitation by conducting plantation drives and explore the possibilities of certain technical methods that could be incorporated in the construction activities so as to reduce the pollution levels.
Regarding the industrial waste Management plan, he directed to submit a detailed report regarding the categorization of industries according to the type of waste generated including the installation of STPs status.
The Chief Education Officer was asked to encourage the constitution of Eco-clubs in the schools, holding of online debates, poster making competitions, plantation drives so that students could participate and take up meaningful environmental activities and projects thereby creating a positive impact on the society through awareness.