Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh government seems serious about tackling the air pollution. Therefore, the state government is set to make a district-wise plan to mitigate pollution levels across the district; the total expense in this project would be around Rs 5,000 crore. Local administration will have the duty to implement the measures with an aim to improve the air quality of the urban areas.
Reducing dust is the main focus; it is necessary to improve the roads and vehicular emissions and keep eyes on ongoing construction works. As per the plan, plantation is likely to take place in roadside and open areas to prevent dust from floating in the air. In industrial belts, tree fences will be planted between manufacturing units and adjacent roads for mitigating pollution levels.
The plan is being prepared by the urban development and housing department, and civic bodies will have the duty to implement it. Improvement is required at every stage; cities with a moderate AQI will be targeted for improvement to the satisfactory category, while satisfactory AQI will have to progress to the good category. At present, most cities in the state have moderate and satisfactory AQI levels.
Officials said the plan has been finalized, and funding was being sourced from various government bodies and agencies within and outside the state. “A project of this scale, requiring Rs 5,000 crore, is a significant undertaking. Madhya Pradesh aims to set an example for the country in reducing air pollution,” a senior official said.
The government says several factors are responsible for the rise of pollution levels, such as stubble burning, vehicular emissions, bonfires, construction works, and a dearth of road cleaning. Besides this, industrial and commercial areas are major contributors to the rise of pollution levels in the state.
