"We are taking measures to reduce pollution to minimum": Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], January 7 (ANI): Maharashtra Environment and Climate Change Minister Pankaja Munde on Tuesday outlined plans to address dust particles, reduce pollution indices, and coordinate with the Centre to tackle pollution in the state.
Speaking at the press conference here today, Munde highlighted that a 100-day action plan, directed by the Chief Minister, includes forming a task force with key departments like transport and medical to combat the crisis.
"Today, we held a very important meeting on Mumbai pollution. We discussed what we are doing for dust particles. The environment is the future; it should be clean. The Chief Minister of the state has asserted a 100-day plan and it is being prepared. We are preparing a task force, which will also include departments like transport and medical," she said.
"We are currently in the 100-200 range (AQI level), and we are looking at how to reduce it. Excavation work is being done and its effect is visible. The weather is cold. We are taking measures to reduce pollution to a minimum. We are contacting different departments. We will try to reduce it by the third week of February. We recently met the Union Environment Minister," the Maharashtra Minister added.
Pankaja Munde, further emphasized that they will coordinate with the Center on the issue.
"Pollution is an issue in the zone. We have already taken a strict stand regarding plastic which is harmful. We are making an online app, telling citizens to take photos and geo-tag them," she said.
On January 3, amid rising pollution in the Indrayani River, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis instructed the industries to make sure that no effluent goes into the river and said that the work to clean the Indrayani river is underway.
Speaking to reporters, the Maharashtra CM said that the cleaning work of the Indrayani river is going on.
"The Indrayani River cannot be cleaned in one day. The water from the villages, cities and industries goes to the Indrani river. We have started the clarification of this water before releasing it in the Indrayani River. We are arranging the funds for Nagar Palikas and Mahanagar Palika for this. We have also instructed industries to make sure that no influent goes in the river," Fadnavis said in Pune. (ANI)