Bhubaneswar: Air pollutants have grasped seven cities and towns in the state at an alarming level owing to increased vehicular movement including other sources of pollution, Forest and Environment Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha said in the House of Odisha Assembly while replying to a query during its Session Tuesday afternoon.
There are presence of dangerous air pollutants like PM10 and PM2.5 in the air of the seven cities and towns in Odisha. The places such as Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Balasore, Angul, Rourkela, Kalinganagar and Talcher have been categorised as ‘non-attainment city’. However, the levels of SO2 and NOX in the air of these cities and towns in the state are within prescribed limits, the Environment Minister added.
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The State government has chalked out plans to lessen the air pollution levels in the seven towns and cities. The department has been in consultation with other departments in this regard, Arukha replied.
Notably, BJD MLA from Salepur Prasanta Behera raised a question regarding air pollution in the state and what steps the government has taken to address the issue.
PNN