Bihar Environment Minister Reviews Pollution Control Measures, Expresses Concerns Over Plastic Ban Enforcement

Patna: The Bihar State Pollution Control Board’s efforts to tackle pollution came under review during a meeting chaired by Dr. Prem Kumar, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bihar. Progress on key initiatives and compliance with prior directives formed the core of the discussions.

Progress on Flue Gas Desulphurization Units

The board reported advancements in installing Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) units across six National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) plants in Bihar. Work at units in Barh, Navinagar, Kahalgaon, and BRBCL has reached 50-80% completion, while tendering is underway for NTPC units in Kanti and Barauni. The target for full installation is December 2026.

Biomedical Waste Management

The Member Secretary of the board informed the minister about four Collective Biomedical Waste Treatment Systems currently servicing all 38 districts. However, plans for additional facilities in seven districts remain stalled due to pending court proceedings. The minister emphasized the urgent need to address the state’s biomedical waste disposal capacity and directed immediate action to alleviate manpower shortages in the pollution control board.

E-Waste and Single-Use Plastic

Dr. Prem Kumar stressed the necessity of establishing e-waste recycling units and called for greater cooperation from departments in identifying and reporting e-waste sources. Expressing dissatisfaction over the continued availability of single-use plastic despite a state ban, the minister ordered city-wide enforcement raids and district-level reviews to curb its usage.

River Water Quality and Waste Management

Updates on water quality revealed improvements in the state’s river systems, with the number of polluted rivers decreasing from 18 in 2019 to 12 in 2023. The minister commended this progress but raised concerns over solid waste dumping on riverbanks, which hampers river flow and pollutes water. Strict penalties for violators and measures to remove waste from riverbanks were mandated.

Sewage Treatment Initiatives

The board reported completion of 43 sewage treatment plants (STPs), with eight operational and five in trial runs. Several other projects are at advanced stages of completion, while tendering and DPR preparation are underway for additional facilities. Meanwhile, in-situ bioremediation technology is being used to treat sewage in cities lacking STPs.

Awareness Campaigns

The minister underlined the need for public awareness campaigns, particularly along the banks of the Falgu River, to discourage waste disposal into rivers. Hoardings and appeals will be used to educate communities on the importance of protecting water bodies.