Centre concerned with rising pollution of Guwahati: Union Minister Harsh Vardhan

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, July 24: Responding to a question raised by Member of Parliament Bhubaneswar Kalita in the Rajya Sabha on July 23, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Harsh Vardhan said that the Central government has been concerned with the problem induced by increased pollution in Guwahati city. He informed the House that the River Brahmaputra including its tributaries that are flowing through the city has been identified as polluted rivers.

Highlighting that the increased pollution in and around Guwahati has eventually been creating health hazards, Kalita wanted to know if measures are stepped up. In reply, Vardhan said that the Assam State Pollution Control Board and the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) Commissioner has already been provided necessary directives in this regard.

Participating in the debate, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh requested the Union Minister to free Dipor Bil, located at the outskirt of the city from encroachment. Citing Dipor Bil as an important lake in country, Ramesh appealed the Union Minister to step up measures to make Dipor Bil pollution free.

Participating in the debate, another Congress MP Manash Ranjan Bhuyan said that the way Centre has adopted measures to make the Ganga pollution free, similar measure should also be taken in the case of Dipor Bil. Mentioning that Guwahati is one among the 20 polluted cities in the county, Maharastra MP Vandana Chavan requested the Union Minister to set Guwahati free from pollution.