Air pollution on the decline: GPCB

SURAT, April 21: Gujarat Pollution Board Control has claimed that air pollution in the city is on the decline. The reduction in pollution level was brought to the notice of a high-power committee appointed by the Gujarat High Court to monitor pollution control measures taken by industries of the region.

The committee, whose chairman is former MP Haroobhai Mehta, was in Surat on Sunday on a periodical visit. GPCB regional officer V R Ghadge told the committee that air pollution had decreased over the last year. He attributed this decline to the change in fuel used by dyeing and printing units based in Sachin. Many lignite-based units were converting into gas-based ones bringing down pollution levels, he claimed, adding that moreover, industries had used other measures as well to reduce air pollution.

Various industrial organisations also represented before the committee under the leadership of President of Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) Prem Sharda, who apprised the committee of the measures taken by industries in bringing down pollution levels.

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The committee was told that Sachin-based industries already had a primary treatment plant and were in the process of setting up a common effluent treatment plant, while Pandesara units — who did not have land to set up a similar plant — had agreed to use the service of the proposed common effluent treatment plant by the Surat Municipal Corporation.

A member requested the committee that since most Sachin units had primary treatment plant they should not be forced to have a secondary treatment plant.