Patna: Dr. Prem Kumar, Bihar’s Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, chaired a meeting on Wednesday to review the current state of the environment and the ongoing efforts to address environmental challenges. The meeting, held in the Auditorium of the Rajdhani Vatika, saw the participation of key officials including Dr. D.K. Shukla, Chairman of the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB), Member Secretary S. Chandrasekhar, among others.
Dr. D.K. Shukla commenced the session by welcoming the Minister and providing an overview of BSPCB’s establishment, objectives, responsibilities, and current initiatives. He elaborated on key legislative frameworks such as the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; and the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, along with various regulations enacted under these laws.
Shukla highlighted the establishment of 35 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Centers across different districts of Bihar, which actively track air quality. The data from these centers is displayed for public awareness and shared with the Central Pollution Control Board. He also mentioned ongoing studies by institutions like IIT BHU, Varanasi; IIT Delhi; IIT Patna; and IIT Kanpur, which are assessing air quality in all 534 blocks of the state using sensors. Preliminary findings indicate that dust particles are the primary contributors to air pollution in Bihar, with major sources including geographical dust from beyond the state borders, transportation, large-scale infrastructure projects, construction, and demolition activities.
Dr. Prem Kumar emphasized the importance of public awareness and individual responsibility in environmental protection and pollution control. He called for an extensive public awareness campaign to promote environment-friendly lifestyles among citizens. The Minister directed the launch of a consumer awareness program across the state to ensure public participation in environmental conservation. He instructed that hoardings with crucial information about environmental protection and pollution control be placed at major sites.
Additionally, Dr. Prem Kumar mandated special public awareness campaigns during major festivals such as Shravani Mela, Dussehra, Diwali, Pitrapaksha Mela, and Sonpur Mela.
The meeting concluded with contributions from Arun Kumar, BSPCB’s analyst; S.N. Jaiswal, Scientist Consultant; Dr. Naveen Kumar, Senior Scientist; and Dr. D. Saha, Nodal Officer, who discussed further strategies and actions for enhancing the state’s environmental health.
