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Pollution rides in the openFinger at transport of coal, filth

Ferrying of coal and garbage in uncovered vehicles through well-populated localities is one of the main reasons behind the high pollution levels of Dhanbad with the respective stakeholders, BCCL and Dhanbad Municipal Corporation (DMC), turning a blind eye to possible health hazards.

In blatant violation of environment rules, an average of over 500 vehicles, including tippers without covers, transport coal from BCCL mines to various places everyday, the exposed mineral polluting the air and increasing health risks.

Similarly, over 60 tractors deployed by the local civic body carry garbage in the open, the tarpaulin sheets with which the vehicles ought to be covered conveniently forgotten.

The sight and smell of uncovered filth are not only unbearable, but also raise hygiene posers that the authorities ignore blatantly.

Realising the gravity of the situation, Dhanbad deputy commissioner (DC) Kripa Nand Jha, at a district-level environment committee meeting held way back in March, had issued strict instructions to BCCL, Eastern Coalfield and Maithon Power to ensure transport of coal using covered vehicles only.

He had also asked district transport officer Ravi Raj Sharma to carry out periodic checks to prevent coal transport in uncovered vehicles.

Last month, Dhanbad MLA Raj Sinha took up the matter, sending a letter to chief minister Raghubar Das to draw his attention towards the plight of coal town residents, who are prone to various lung disorders like bronchitis, tuberculosis etc, because of the practice of transporting coal in open vehicles by BCCL.

But BCCL pleaded helplessness and passed the buck to contractors they have hired for coal transport.

"As a majority of coal transport work is carried out by contractors, we have included the provision of covering the vehicles with tarpaulin sheets in their agreements. But they are violating the terms of agreement. We can take action if the violations are brought to our notice," head of BCCL's environment department E.V.R. Raju, told The Telegraph.

He added that there was a complaint redressal forum on BCCL's website www.bccl.gov.in where such violations could be brought to their notice along with photographs.

"We will take appropriate action, including imposition of penalty and cancellation of contracts, if the complaints prove to be true," Raju said.

District transport officer of Dhanbad Ravi Raj Sharma admitted that though they had organised checking drives to stop open ferrying of coal, which had curbed the menace to some extent, violations were still taking place.

"We plan to intensity the crackdown," he added.

On garbage disposal, insiders at DMC admitted that sanitation workers were not using tarpaulin sheets because of lax monitoring by the authorities.

"Though the tarpaulin sheets were purchased after protests by us and used for about a month, the violations have again started due to lack of supervision," said councillor of ward 20 Ashok Pal.

Municipal commissioner Vinod Shankar Singh promised action.

MLA Sinha, who cited Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) figures in his letter to point out that respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) in Dhanbad district was around 546µg/m³ in 2009-10, 269.56 µg/m³ in 2010-11 and 304.82µg/m³ in 2013-14 while the permissible limit was 300µg/m³, called for strict action.

"Mere talk won't do. We need initiatives from the government at all levels to check air pollution," he said.

source: http://www.telegraphindia.com