Bikaner : Bikaner Pollution Control Board team on Wednesday inspected the mineral zone near the village in Khara Industrial Area. However, before his arrival, all 40 POP factories were closed on Tuesday night itself. The dust was suppressed by sprinkling water on the roads in the entire zone. A team of Pollution Control Board Chief Engineer Premalal and two scientists suddenly reached Khara late on Tuesday night. The factories were closed after the industrial owners got information about his arrival. Therefore, they could not see the situation of pollution due to smoke coming out from factories in the Mineral Zone. This team again reached Khara on Wednesday morning. By then the dust accumulated on the paths of the mineral zone had been suppressed by sprinkling water.
Water has also been sprinkled on the chimneys of the furnaces of factories to cover the dust. He saw a gas furnace installed in a factory. Discussed with factory owners the issues of reducing smoke coming out from the factory and eliminating particulate matter in the chimney itself. Understand the working of production. 30 commercial cylinders have been installed simultaneously for the gas furnace. If they run continuously for 9-10 hours, a production of 30 tonnes has been estimated. However, this will be quite expensive. But factory owners claim that this will reduce pollution significantly. In the team, Superintendent Scientific Officer Manoj Meena and Scientific Officer Mahesh Malav took stock of all the technical aspects. He also discussed various measures to reduce pollution. Necessary instructions related to reducing pollution were also given. Many entrepreneurs including Parvinder Singh, President of Khara Industries Association were present during this period.
The villagers said that mustard paste is cheap, hence the furnaces in all the factories are running with it and this is also the reason for the spread of pollution. He has demanded from the board to ban the use of pallar. It is noteworthy that due to air pollution in Khara village, children and elderly people are suffering from asthma. After this matter came to light in Bhaskar, the Pollution Control Board team has come to take stock of the situation.
Meeting in school, Principal and villagers said- make Khara pollution free
The meeting was held at the Government Senior Secondary School, Khara. Pollution Control Board’s Chief Engineer Premalal and Regional Officer Rajkumar Meena took written information from Principal Sumanlata Sethi about the problems being faced by the children. He told that there is a lot of dust scattered in the school. The enrollment of children is more than 400, but very few are coming. Most of them are reported to be ill. Khara Sarpanch Bhairusingh Sisodia, Gajesingh, Mangilal Suthar, Vijay Singh, Kanhaiyalal Joshi, Omaram Prajapat said that the village will have to be made pollution free. The department should take whatever steps are necessary for this. Otherwise a big movement will be launched. All the villagers will take to the streets with women and children.
Chief Engineer said- If pollution is not controlled, factories will be closed
After seeing the condition of Khara Mineral Zone, Chief Engineer of Pollution Control Board, Premalal, while talking to Bhaskar, said that the parameters prescribed under the Pollution Act are not being followed. He said that the level of PM-10 is much higher than the standard. Factory owners have been instructed to reduce it. Some changes have also been asked to be made in the factory. If improvements are not made then there is no other option except closing the factories. He said that it is the responsibility of RIICO to provide basic facilities like roads, sanitation etc. in the RIICO area, which are not being provided. In response to a question, Premalal said that the Khara industrial area was cut between 1990-95. Before 2006, NOC from the Pollution Board was not mandatory. But RIICO should have taken consent to operate and consent to establishment. The matter regarding this is going on at a higher level. He told that by continuously visiting this area for three days, work will be done on measures to reduce pollution.
