ITANAGAR, May 26:A Committee on Environment and Pollution Control Board from Jharkhand Legislative Assembly called on the Speaker of the Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, TN Thongdok, at his chamber today at the impressive new Assembly Building in Itanagar. The committee was led by the Chairman MLA Ashok Bhagat and joined by MLA Amit Mandal as a member.

Thongdok urged that the Central and the State Pollution Control Boards may have to be further strengthened in view of the alarming challenges to the environment since the enactment of the laws in 1950. The Speaker desired meaningful revamp of the laws and wanted the Pollution Control Boards (PCBs) to be clothed with both executive and judicial powers. He further desired that the National Green Tribunal must function only as an appellate forum and the original jurisdiction in respect of pollution and environmental issued may be vested in the PCBs.

The Speaker also desired the tweaking of school and college curriculum to formally inculcate environmental education to everyone.  He told the visiting committee that an exclusive committee on environmental issues will be instituted in the Arunachal Assembly also.

Thongdok repeatedly emphasised on the fact that unless civil society involves itself with environmental cause, any mission by the government will not be successful.

Additional Principal Conservator of Forests of Arunachal Pradesh, Ishwar Singh and Dr. NS Bist, assisted by two scientists from the Arunachal Pradesh Pollution Control Board, briefed the visiting committee on the environmental issues of Arunachal Pradesh. The Assembly committee from Jharkhand was very keen on learning the nuances of environment protection and pollution control from Arunachal Pradesh.

  The Chairman, member and officers of the visiting Committee were honoured with compliments in the traditional way.

A host of other officers from the Jharkhand Assembly also accompanied the Committee.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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