Government Hints Towards Launching 'National Clean Air' Program Soon
The government would soon be coming out with a new 'National clean air' program soon, as mentioned by a government official at an event in New Delhi.
Speaking at Enviro-Health Conference 2017, organised by Indraprastha Vigyan Bharati, Shruti Rai Bhardwaj, Joint Director; Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of India, hinted towards the new program which would be engrained with new activities, especially the use of latest technology.
Bhardwaj also spoke about the government's recognition towards the manpower shortage and other shortages of resources in the country.
"We do realise the manpower problem (CPCB and State pollution boards) and we are working towards that. But right now we are in mission mode. We ran extensive campaigns pre and post-Diwali and the significant impact was witnessed," said the Director.
She further added, "We already have the good standards. We have 600 manual monitoring stations, more than 20 international standards and now graded action plan. As far as implementation is concerned, we have regular meeting with the environment state ministers. We do realise that we are running against time," said Bhardwaj.
Often accused of doing a cosmetic job on pollution, Bhardwaj said that it is easy to criticize, but the society should also appreciate the effort made in the last few years.
"The issue is not restricted to advocacy, pollution boards or government but is now in public forum. There has to be a cumulative responsibility as a single agency cannot do anything," said Bhardwaj.
We speak of enforcement and law but a major change needs to come in people's attitude. Pollution control also needs to come from our habits. The government expects that sort of contribution.
Also present at the event, DK Aswal, Director, NPL, raised an important issue regarding the reliability of the air pollution data in the relation of the devices authencity in the country.
"We spend so much money on pollution monitoring and manpower, but are the results reliable? If the instruments are not calibrated then there are wrong results or almost 'no measurement'," said Aswal.
