JOWAI: The Senior Engineer and General Officer, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) North East Zone, Dr. Z Changsan inaugurated the ‘Online Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station’ at Star Cement, Lumshnong in East Jaintia Hills on Monday.
“The Air Quality Monitoring Station installed in cement plant areas of Lumshnong is the first in the state and it is very important that such modern technology and scientific equipment is installed in the state capital where huge numbers of vehicles are plying,” Dr. Changsan said.
The head of the CPBC NE Zone was also accompanied by CPBC Sr. Engineer, Dr Santanu Kumar Dutta who has initiated “dense forest plantation” adopted under Akira Miyawaki method of environment forest plantation for environment protection in the cement plant areas.
“This station, imported from Sweden, will monitor air pollutants on real time basis and has the facility to store and transmit the data to the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) & Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), New Delhi so that the data on ambient air quality can be scrutinized,” said Dr Dutta.
According to Star Cement Environmental Engineer, Jitendra Kr Rout, the Air Quality Monitoring Station was installed in order to comply with statutory requirements of the Ministry of Forest and Environment, Government of India for continuous monitoring of air and dust pollution.
Meanwhile, the CPCB officials explained the technology, equipment and precautionary measures used by Star Cement in ensuring a pollution free environment in the area.
