Pollution control agency coming up in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: The city will soon get another pollution control agency. A nod has been given for the setting up of an ‘Air Authority’ on the lines of the Clean Authority of Tokyo. This authority will have statutory powers and will mainly be concerned with air pollution. However, noise and water pollution will be included in its jurisdiction. After municipal administration minister K.T. Rama Rao visited Japan, he proposed the setting up of a similar authority for Hyderabad. The new agency will be headed by the state chief secretary and include the heads of all the departments.

“The contributory factors of pollution, rules of solid waste management and the guidelines of the Tokyo Clean Air Authority would also be studied for preparing the concept note. A committee was constituted to prepare a concept note and submit it by February 15. This committee would prepare a note on the creation of a model Act, and define the structure and jurisdiction of the proposed authority,” said minister KT Rama Rao.

Municipal administration secretary Navin Mittal said while the pollution control board (PCB) would function as a regulatory and enforcement agency, the proposed authority would look after planning, coordination and implementation.