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Raje Govt. faces embarrassment

Special Correspondent

Ruling party members charge Minister of laxity

Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Government faced some embarrassing moments in the State Assembly on Friday when a ruling party member charged the Forest Minister Laxminarain Dave with laxity in taking action to control the industrial pollution in Pali district, listed among the most polluted 22 areas in the country.

The pollution from the dying units in the districts had done extensive damage to the land, besides causing air pollution, many members who joined the issue, said.

The Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Sumerpur in Pali district, Madan Rathore, who raised the issue through a question, charged Mr.Dave with trying to shield the bureaucrats who issued no objection certificates to fresh units in the area despite a ban. The authorities were not following the norms in clearing the new projects and the water treatment plants in Pali town were not functional, he charged.

The Congress members, Ramnarain Meena and C.D.Deval said Pali and Jodhpur districts were among the most polluted districts and the Government had done precious nothing to stop the deterioration of the soil and water quality in these areas. Mr.Deval wanted to know whether the Government would provide any compensation for the damages caused to the land.

Mr.Dave, who too hails from Pali district, informed the House that the three water treatment plants in Pali were being updated at a cost of Rs.8.28 crores.

Work on one plant was complete while the other two would be ready by March 31, he informed. As many as 309 units in Pali— 63 in industrial areas and 246 in non-industrial areas-- were issued notices for closure under the Pollution Control Act. However the order could not be executed after a stay from the Rajasthan High Court. The issue was presently pending before the Supreme Court, he informed.

The Minister said that a team of experts from Delhi would be studying the adverse impact of water pollution in Pali and suggest remedial measures.

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