CHENNAI: In a bid to focus on environmental sustainability and realise the objectives of Vision 2023, the environment and forest department’s draft state environment policy is looking at strategies to revamp and restructure the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, the Directorate of Environment and related institutions to make them participative and transparent in decision-making.
According to the draft policy, which Express has access to, specific strategies will be worked on to strengthen the capacity of these organisations and the need for redefining their roles in being more efficient in their processes and decision-making and more vigilant and pro-active in regulatory functions, using the latest technologies and other facilities.
The draft policy states that the state is also contemplating the enactment of a legislation to ban the production and use of non-biodegradable plastics upto 60 microns.
“The State environment policy will strive to look at the regulatory framework, its adequacy, awareness levels among stakeholders, recent judicial pronouncements, and participation of technical institutions/industries in furthering the cause of environment,” the draft policy states.
The state environment policy’s thrust areas include focusing on air quality by identifying local pollution hot spots and charting out action plans, on water quality by monitoring domestic and industrial pollution flow into water bodies and focusing on various intervention measures. The policy will also focus on pollution abatement in rivers, lakes and water bodies besides waste management and coastal zone management.