Review Meeting Held to Address Pollution Control and Environmental Protection in Bihar

Chirag Gupta

Patna: A review meeting focusing on the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) and its efforts toward pollution control was chaired by Dr. Prem Kumar, Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, at Aranya Bhawan. Senior officials, including the board’s chairman, principal chief conservator of forests, and other departmental heads, participated in the meeting to assess ongoing initiatives and discuss future strategies.

The BSPCB presented updates on several projects, including the establishment of 35 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Centres across 23 districts. An action plan to curb air pollution in Patna, Muzaffarpur, and Gaya is under implementation. Efforts to modernise brick kilns across the state with cleaner technology and agreements with institutions like Banaras Hindu University and IIT Kanpur for advanced air quality studies were also highlighted.

A comprehensive analysis of Ganga and its tributaries is being conducted, with water quality parameters like DO and BOD meeting standards. The board has banned the use of furnace oil, coal, and wood as industrial fuel in areas with cleaner alternatives like CNG and PNG. Additionally, Bihar has prepared a Climate Change Action Plan for 2004-2030, which received state-level approval.

The minister commended the board’s initiatives, particularly the development of a special air laboratory in Patna and a climate resilience study in partnership with UNEP. He urged timely completion of pending projects and directed immediate action to address high pollution levels in Hajipur, emphasising the need for continuous monitoring to maintain air quality in major cities like Patna, Gaya, and Muzaffarpur.

This meeting reinforced the state’s commitment to sustainable environmental practices and the adoption of advanced technologies to mitigate pollution and address climate challenges.