Patna District Magistrate Issues Stringent Directives to Combat Air Pollution

Patna: District Magistrate (DM) Chadrashekhar Singh on Tuesday issued a slew of directives to different departments and agencies of the state government to curb air pollution in the state capital.

Chairing the District-level Implementation Committee for the prevention and control of air pollution, DM Singh examined the works of departments responsible for transport, traffic, municipal bodies, road construction, mining, agriculture, and pollution control.

He urged concerned agencies such as the Patna Metro Rail Corporation, Bihar Rajya Pul Nirmal Nigam Limited, and Bihar State Road Development Corporation Limited to strictly adhere to air pollution control guidelines.

Highlighting the need for preventive measures, DM Singh instructed agencies to take immediate action to curb the rise in dust and particulate matter resulting from construction activities. Emphasizing environmentally conscious construction practices, he advocated the installation of green covers and the avoidance of open material transportation.

The District Magistrate directed sub-divisional officers to enforce compliance with environmental standards by companies engaged in construction work, with strict measures against violators. Additionally, the General Manager of the District Industries Center was tasked with ensuring compliance with departmental provisions, particularly those outlined by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for fly ash management and pollution control.

Addressing the transportation sector, DM Singh instructed the District Transport Officer to organize an orientation workshop for drivers, focusing on guidelines for operating vehicles near traffic lights. The Additional District Magistrate (Supply) received instructions to conduct regular surprise inspections of petrol pumps to ensure compliance with pollution control measures.

During the meeting, an official from the Bihar State Pollution Control Board reported an improvement in the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Patna over the past week. Representatives from various agencies, including the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC), Transport, and the environment, forest, and climate change department, attested to ongoing campaigns to control air pollution.

The PMC outlined measures such as the use of mist cannon machines, water sprinkling, and mist guns to combat air pollution, with DM Singh directing officials from all departments to implement regular actions as per the established action plan.

DM Singh concluded the meeting by urging all concerned officials to adopt a mission-mode approach in a scientifically sound manner for environmental protection. Regional officers were tasked with organizing awareness campaigns and sensitization workshops in villages and educational institutions, fostering a collective commitment to reducing air pollution through inter-departmental coordination and ensuring continuous compliance with statutory provisions.