PCMC chairs meeting to discuss effective measures to tackle air pollution

By: Pune Pulse

November 7, 2023

Pune: Expressing concern over the deteriorating air quality, the Bombay High Court has directed the government to take immediate measures to prevent pollution. In this background, Shekhar Singh, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Commissioner (PCMC) and administrator directed the concerned officials to take necessary measures to prevent pollution.

As per further information from PCMC, an important meeting was held under the chairmanship of Commissioner Singh on Tuesday in the main administrative building of PCMC. In this meeting Pradeep Jambhale Patil, Additional Commissioner, Vijay Kumar Khorate, Makarand Nikam, City Engineer, Health Medical Officer Dr Laxman Gofane, Co City Engineer Pramod Ombhase, Sanjay Kulkarni, Dr Gyandev Jundhare, Manoj Setia, Assistant Commissioner of Health Department Yashwant Dange, Assistant Commissioner of Education Vijaykumar Thorat, Health Executive Officer Ganesh Deshpande, Special Officer Kiran Gaikwad, Regional Officer Suchita Pansare, Anna Bodde, Umesh Dhakne, Rajesh Agle, Sitaram Bahure, Ankush Jadhav, Executive Engineer Devanna Gattuwar, Vijaykumar Kale, Bapu Gaikwad, Rajesh Shinde, Ashok Jawle, Vijay Ohol, Anil Shinde, Devendra Borawke, Rajendra Nimbalkar, Prerna Sinkar, Samaji Sheikh along with officials of Environment, Architecture, Building Permit, BRTS, Water Supply, Education, Health, Medical, Information and Public Relations departments were present.

It is worthy to note that a public interest petition filed by the Bombay High Court on its own regarding increasing air pollution was recently heard. The Bombay High Court directed that the government as well as the Municipal Corporation should take notice of this serious issue and take immediate measures to prevent the increasing air pollution and submit a report on the action taken.

The government has taken a serious step in this regard and has issued guidelines for pollution control. Various directives and guidelines have also been issued through the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to prevent air pollution. It also mentions suggestions for increasing the intensity of measures by considering the statistics of pollution levels of various cities.

To implement the guidelines issued by the government to prevent air pollution in the entire state, a meeting was held on Tuesday under the chairmanship of State Chief Secretary Manoj Saunik through video conference.

In this meeting, the Principal Secretary of the Urban Development Department. Commissioners of various Municipal Corporations were present. The meeting discussed various matters given by the Bombay High Court in the hearing. Also, the chief secretary directed us to take necessary measures to prevent pollution.

Instructions have been given to the concerned departments to prevent air pollution through various means in the jurisdiction of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.

Strict action will be taken on behalf of the Municipal Corporation against the concerned persons or establishments for various reasons such as littering in public places and burning garbage.

Singh also directed the zonal officers as well as the officers of the concerned departments to form special teams and strictly implement the rules.

While transporting construction material, it should be covered and brought from the vehicle, soil sticking to the tire of the vehicle comes to the main road, causing a large amount of dust particles, so such vehicles should be driven on the main road only after spraying water on the tires of the respective vehicle, a suitable type of cloth cover and barricades should be installed at the construction site etc. Separate orders will be issued on behalf of the Municipal Corporation.

Punitive action will also be taken against those violating the rules. Commissioner Singh directed that meetings should be held to convey information about the various guidelines and orders issued in this regard to the concerned.

Commissioner Singh also warned in the meeting that the concerned officials will be held responsible for this work and if they hesitate to act or are lax in their work, strict action will be taken against the concerned officials.

Shreyas Vange