Environment protection government’s priority: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

PATNA: Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday said steps being taken by the state government to curb pollution, conserve water, promote greenery and protect the environment will greatly benefit the future generations. The CM said the government was taking several steps to control pollution by imposing relevant laws.
Addressing the ‘64th Conference of Chairmen and Member Secretaries of the Central and State Pollution Control Boards and Committees’ at Bihar Museum here, the CM said laws have been made for pollution control, but creating awareness among people about environment conservation is more important.“Awareness among people leads to more effective implementation of laws,” he said.
Speaking on air pollution in Bihar, Nitish said air pollution has become a major concern for Bihar where the number of vehicles has increased manifold with increase in purchasing power of people and good roads. He highlighted steps being taken towards environment conservation by the state government through its ambitious ‘Jal Jeevan Hariyali (JJH)’ mission.
“Around Rs 24,524 crore will be spent on JJH campaign by the state government in next three years and eight crore saplings will be planted across the state,” he said.
Nitish added global warming and climate change have already started affecting weather pattern. “Earlier, the average rainfall of the state was 1,200mm to 1,500mm. It came down to 1,027mm in last 30 years and further reduced to 901mm in last 13 years,” he said.
Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi said environment protection was a top priority of the state government. “About 50% hospitals in Bihar are using bio-medical waste processing facilities upon strict directives from Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB),” he said.
Central Pollution Control Board chairman S P Singh Parihar, principal secretary of ministry of environment, forest and climate change (EFACC) C K Mishra, CM’s principal secretary Chanchal Kumar, principal secretary EFACC Dipak Kumar Singh, BSPCB chairman Ashok Ghosh and chairman of other state boards and committees were also present.