Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan seeks permanent solution to rising air pollution in Angul-Talcher belt

Bhubaneswar: Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan expressed deep concern over the deteriorating air quality in Odisha and intervened personally to seek a permanent solution to rising air pollution in the Angul-Talcher industrial belt.Pradhan wrote separate letters to Union environment, forest and climate change minister Bhupender Yadav, Union coal and mines minister G Kishan Reddy and chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Thursday, citing a growing public health hazard. In his letter, Pradhan expressed concern that the air quality index (AQI) in Angul reached the ‘severe’ category and said it was alarming that Talcher featured among the country’s most polluted cities. He flagged heightened health risks for children, adults and people with respiratory ailments.Pradhan proposed a set of measures, including stricter enforcement of pollution control regulations across the industrial area and strengthening real-time air quality monitoring systems.He urged the coal ministry to adopt mechanised coal transportation and advanced dust-suppression methods and recommended creating a green buffer through large-scale plantation around the industrial zone and mining corridor. He also suggested expanding targets under the National Clean Air Programme.Noting that actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) are temporary, Pradhan said a long-term solution would require coordinated efforts among the state pollution control board, district administration and industrial organisations.He stressed joint cooperation between the Centre and the state to improve air quality and the quality of life for residents of Angul and Talcher. Last Saturday, the pollution level at Talcher crossed that of New Delhi, attributed to round-the-clock industrial activities.Following the revelation, the district administration enforced a series of prohibitions, including on construction activities. The Balasore administration followed suit and also issued similar directives to combat air pollution in the district.