Thongdok calls for revamping pollution control boards

From Our Correspondent

Itagar, May 27: A committee on Environment and Pollution Control Board from Jharkhand Legislative Assembly led by its chairman Ashok Bhagat (MLA) and member Amit Mandal (MLA) on Friday called on Aruchal Pradesh legislative assembly speaker T N Thongdok at the latter’s office here where various challenges in regards to maintaining a pollution free environment were discussed at length.

Speaking on the occasion, Thongdok urged that the central and state pollution control boards may have to be further strengthened in view of the alarming challenges to environment since the ectment of laws in 1950, an official report informed here today.

The Speaker while calling for a meaningful revamp of the laws desired the Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) to be clothed with both executive and judicial powers. He expressed that the tiol Green Tribul must function only as an appellate forum and the origil jurisdiction in respect of pollution and environmental issued may be vested in the PCBs.

Thongdok also desired the tweaking of school and college curriculum to formally inculcate environmental education to everyone.  He told the visiting committee that an exclusive committee on environmental issues will be instituted in the Aruchal Assembly as well.

The Speaker repeatedly emphasised on the fact that unless the civil society involves itself with environmental cause, any mission by the government will not be successful.

State’s additiol principal conservators of forest, Ishwar Singh and Dr N S Bist, assisted by two scientists from the Aruchal Pradesh Pollution Control Board, briefed the visiting committee on the environmental issues of the state.

The Assembly committee from Jharkhand which was also was also accompanied a host of other officers were very keen on learning the nuances of environment protection and pollution control from Aruchal Pradesh, the report added.