NGT reviews efforts to protect environment in Kashi

Varanasi: Chaired by Afroz Ahmad, member/judge of National Green Tribunal, principal bench, New Delhi, a meeting to review compliance of orders passed by NGT and work being carried out for environmental protection in Varanasi concluded on Thursday.

Ahmad obtained detailed information from officials of the departments concerned about river conservation, developing green belt, increasing awareness among citizens about environmental protection, environmental protection, sewerage treatment and future action plan and work related to waste management.

He asked the CMO to appoint a nodal officer for assessment and monitoring of biomedical waste and to ensure that it does not remain on hospital premises for more than 48 hours. For disposal of e-waste, he directed the regional officer of UP Pollution Control Board to find a recycler or buyer, while making people aware about e-waste.

He said strict compliance should be ensured of conditions laid by Supreme Court and NGT and directed that sewerage water be used in agriculture, landscaping and gardening and in construction work, besides other work. He asked the district forest officeer to encourage people to preserve trees that are 100-200 years old and emphasised making farmers aware about planting saplings on bunds of fields and promoting agro forestry.

He directed the district agriculture officer to make farmers settled along the banks of the Ganga river aware about reduced use of pesticides, doing plantation and getting proper bunding of fields done. In this, assistance should be taken from KVK (Krishi Vigyan Kendra) along with ATM (assistant technology manager) and BTM (block technology manager). He said that maximum compost manure should be made from biodegradable waste. Better work should be done for ground water recharge so that ground water does not go into the critical zone. Plantation should be done extensively on both sides of the drains.

He also gave directions to develop biodiversity forests on govt land of gram panchayats. Mainly Jamun, Arjun and Tamarind saplings should be planted. Assistance of CSR fund should also be taken for minor works of environmental protection.

He said environmental protection is the responsibility of not only govt or administration, but of every citizen. He said environment and economy are connected with each other and it is necessary to give priority to environmental protection for sustainable development. He directed marking of flood zones of rivers and promotion of plantation in river catchment areas for conservation of rivers.

District magistrate Satyendra Kumar informed about work being carried out for various waste management and disposal, river conservation and environmental protection in the district. Municipal Commissioner Himanshu Nagpal gave information about door-to-door garbage collection in all the wards of the municipal corporation area and topics related to segregation and disposal of various waste. He also explained about the scientific and safe disposal of old and untreated garbage.

The meeting was also attended by the chief development officer Prakhar Kumar Singh, DFO Swati Singh, VC VDA Puran Bohra, along with other officials of concerned departments.