Govt to Set Up 80 Air Quality Stations, Blue Green Campuses in Tamil Nadu
They would monitor the temperature, moisture and air pollutants on a real-time basis and to convey them to the people through electronic display boards
Chennai: Environment minister V.K. Rajeev on Monday said sensor-based air quality monitoring stations would come up at 80 places to strengthen air quality monitoring. They would monitor the temperature, moisture and air pollutants on a real-time basis and to convey them to the people through electronic display boards.
He said a total of 200 government and government aided schools and five colleges would be turned into blue green campuses every year at a budget of Rs. 53 crore to provide awareness to the younger generations on climate change and the actions to counter it.
Replying to the debate in the Assembly on demands for grants to his ministry, Rajeev said five environment monitoring vehicles with modern analytical devices would be operated for real-time monitoring of air, water and noise indices and act on people’s complaints based on scientific data.
In his policy note, Rajeev said under Phase-II, development works for blue flag beaches are under progress in Samiyarpettai in Cuddalore district, Keezh Pudupattu in Villupuram District and Kulasekarapattinam in Thoothukudi district. Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) have been prepared for the development of blue flag beaches at Palavakkam, Thiruvanmiyur and Uthandi in Chennai and further steps are being taken to initiate the development works.
He said climate restoration centres would be set up at six places in the State to provide experience-based learning for students in ecology, bio-diversity, climate change and restoration. He announced that a city biodiversity index would be created in 24 corporations since the expansion of bio diversity is the basis for improving the services of environment organisations and restoration of climate factors.
A compilation and an online learning website would be created to create awareness on climate change among all sections of people, disseminate basic information and provide training for those related to the government and several sections of people, Rajeev announced. He said five emergency response centres would be set up to strengthen monitoring and emergency actions. They would integrate environment monitoring organisations and facilitate real-time monitoring, precautions and speedy action.
He announced incentives for industries which receive environment evaluation certificates and measures to turn buildings of Tamil Nadu Pollution Board (TNPCB) into environment-friendly structures. Solar panels and rainwater harvesting structures would be formed in the TNPCB buildings in this scheme.
The minister noted that the TNPCB launched the Kurunkadugal Thittam to promote large‐scale, industry‐funded afforestation. The target is 1,000 micro‐forests using native species, raising State green cover from 23 per cent to 33 per cent by 2030–31. To date, 1,734,306 native saplings were planted across 924.4065 hectares.
The government seeks substantial reduction in waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. TNPCB has authorised hazardous waste generators and promotes scientific disposal routes such as recycling, utilization, co‐processing, incineration and landfilling). Recent trends show reduced volumes to incineration and landfilling due to increased waste minimization, reuse and resource recovery. By 2030 the department aims to improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping, minimizing hazardous releases, halving untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse.