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Govt forms panels to clean up air and rivers in six months

  • 30/11/2018
  • Facing wrath of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) over rising levels of pollutants in air and rampant pollution of rivers across Karnataka, the state government has woken up to the alarming threat and constituted two high-level committees to cleanse air and rivers and make them fit for humans in the next six months.
  • While the committee on air quality has been mandated to bring down pollutants level as per the national parameters, the committee on the rejuvenation of rivers has an arduous task of ensuring river water fit for at least bathing purpose.
  • As per the CPCB data, Karnataka has 17 river stretches witnessing intense pollution with as many as seven rivers falling under the priority 4 category.

“The committee shall come up with action plan for identifying polluting sources like STPs, ETPs and CETP and solid waste management processing facilities. Setting up of biodiversity parks on floodplains by removing encroachment shall also be considered as an important component for river rejuvenation. The committee will also invite public participation from educational, religious institutions and commercial establishments,”