Haryana Chief Secretary, Dr TVSN Prasad directed the Regional Officers of Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) to compile monthly pollution and environmental reports for their respective areas. These reports are to be submitted to the State Government to facilitate effective measures against pollution.
While presiding over the meeting of Regional Officers of Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) on the occasion of Golden Jubilee of the Board here today, Dr TVSN Prasad also directed the formation of a working group comprising key stakeholder departments—including Health, Transport, Industries, Town and Country Planning, Urban Local Bodies, Development and Panchayats, and Public Health Engineering.
The group is tasked with addressing at least 50 pollution hotspots throughout the golden jubilee year. He also emphasized the need of interdepartmental coordination to enhance pollution control efforts and ensure a cleaner environment for the people of Haryana.
Congratulating the Haryana State Pollution Control Board on its 50th anniversary, Chief Secretary Dr TVSN Prasad emphasized the growing importance of addressing environmental pollution in light of increasing economic activities. He highlighted the need for a proactive approach to ensure a sustainable future while fostering economic growth.
The Chairman of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board, Sh P. Raghavendra Rao, provided a comprehensive overview of the Board's journey since its inception in 1974. He said that while the Board was originally established to tackle water pollution, its activities have significantly expanded over the years to address a broader range of environmental challenges.
Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Sh Sudhir Rajpal, emphasized the need to delegate the responsibility of biomedical waste collection and disposal to multiple agencies to enhance system effectiveness. He also proposed reducing the operational coverage of these agencies from the current 75 kilometers to improve service efficiency.
It was informed in the meeting that the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has taken a series of measures to address air pollution in preparation for the upcoming winter season. The board has implemented several initiatives aimed at improving air quality across the state, particularly in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Mandatory Installation of Emission Monitoring Devices
HSPCB has mandated that all Red Category Air Emitting industries in NCR Districts install Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Devices (OCEMD). Approximately 400 such units have been established.
Enhanced Air Quality Monitoring
To bolster air quality monitoring, Haryana has installed 29 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) across the state, with 21 located in NCR Districts. Additionally, 46 Manual Stations are operational to ensure comprehensive air quality assessment.
24/7 Pollution Control and Dust Management
A control room has been set up at the Ballabgarh Regional Office to handle air pollution-related complaints around the clock during the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) period. HSPCB is also closely monitoring emission norms through regular inspections and maintaining strict vigilance against the use of unapproved fuels.
Implementation of Dust Control Measures
In response to directives from the Commission for Air Quality Management, HSPCB has established "Dust Control and Management Cells" with the Public Works (B&R) department and Haryana State Agriculture Marketing Board. Nineteen such cells have been created across various agencies, and a Web Portal for Dust Pollution Control Self Assessment has registered 1,074 construction sites.
City Action Plans and Fuel Regulations
HSPCB is actively monitoring the implementation of City Action Plans for Faridabad and other non-NCAP cities within NCR. The board has also updated the list of approved fuels for NCR to ensure compliance with environmental regulations. Source apportionment and emission inventory studies have been completed for Gurugram, Panipat, and Sonipat, with plans to extend these studies to other major cities in Haryana.