Paradip: In order to fight pollution in in this port city, Collector Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar gave recognition Saturday to the ‘Environment Committee’ formed recently.
Various organisations and local residents have been protesting against the pollution menace here and demanding measures to tackle it.
The chairman of “Paradip Citizens’ Forum Ayaskant Ray had also staged a ‘Dhuli Satyagrah’ recently to protest against the administration’s apathy in tackling pollution.
After a series of dharnas and demonstrations, the district administration convened a meeting with the Forum to find out a solution, February 23.
As per the decisions taken in the meeting, the formation of the ‘Environment Committee’ was mulled. It was duly done so. After being recognised, by the Collector, the body has also sent a letter to the Odisha State Pollution Control Board seeking the same.
There are 12 members in the committee. While the Collector has been appointed the head of the body, the others in the panel are Paradip ADM, CDMO, Rajnagar DFO, regional officer of OSPCB, Paradip ASP, District Horticulture Officer, Utkal Ranjan Mohanty of district UCO club, environmentalist Debadutta Samantaray, chairman of Nagarika Mancha Ayaskant Ray, chairman of Paradip Port ED of Oil Refinery and heads of IFFCO and PPL.
The schedule of how the committee will convene its meeting and other details will be prepared by regional officer OSPCB Ramesh Chandra Ekka and ADM Kanhucharan Dhir.
Considering that the elections and the busy schedule of administrative officers, the schedule will be prepared now and a meeting will only be convened after the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls are over in the state, sources said.
PNN
