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Bhubaneswar Burns: Charcoal Ban Ignites Air Quality Fight
5 Sep
Summary
- Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation seized 60 kg of charcoal.
- The drive aims to curb air pollution and improve NCAP ranking.
- Open burning of waste and dust suppression are also addressed.
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) recently confiscated around 60 kg of charcoal as part of a targeted enforcement drive. This initiative addresses the sale, supply, and usage of charcoal, a fuel contributing to air pollution. The move is a key component of Bhubaneswar's strategy to improve its air quality and enhance its ranking in the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
This enforcement action follows the reintroduction of restrictions on charcoal use, announced by BMC Mayor Sulochana Das. The city aims to improve its NCAP performance significantly this year. The BMC has intensified raids against charcoal use, recognizing its contribution to harmful particulate matter emissions. This crackdown is integrated with a week-long campaign focused on public awareness and behavioral changes in waste management and pollution control practices.
Beyond the charcoal ban, the BMC is implementing broader measures to reduce pollution. These include stricter enforcement against the open burning of municipal waste and intensified dust suppression initiatives. Efforts to control dust from vacant plots and roadside spaces involve covering open areas to minimize air quality degradation. These comprehensive interventions aim to meet NCAP objectives, especially before winter when pollution typically rises.
