Lok Sabha MP Brijmohan Agrawal raises issue of pollution in Chhattisgarh, demands urgent action

RAIPUR: The ‘worsening’ pollution levels in Chhattisgarh echoed in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday after Raipur MP and senior BJP leader Brijmohan Agrawal raised the matter under rule 377, urging Bhupender Yadav, the Union minister for environment, forest and climate change take immediate and concrete action. In his address, Agrawal pointed out that among the 131 non-attainment cities in India—where pollution levels exceed prescribed standards—three are in Chhattisgarh: Raipur, Korba and Bhilai. He added that the situation in Raigarh and Janjgir-Champa is equally alarming.Agrawal noted that Raipur’s outskirts—Siltara, Urla, and Borjhara—have developed as major industrial hubs, resulting in abnormally high levels of air and water pollution.

“This has had a serious impact on the health and livelihood of local residents,” he told the House.He further informed Parliament that the Chhattisgarh environment conservation board had commissioned a comprehensive study of 142 square kilometres of Raipur by the Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI). Agrawal demanded that the NEERI report be made public and details shared about the steps taken so far based on its recommendations.

Calling for a statewide environmental assessment, Agrawal urged the Centre to commission a fresh study to clearly map pollution levels and environmental standards up to 2025. He also stressed the need for biodiversity restoration and afforestation, arguing that this would help cleanse the state’s air, water and soil, while ensuring farmers have access to non-contaminated land to boost agriculture and horticulture output.Concluding his appeal, Agrawal urged Minister Yadav to intervene decisively so that “the people of Chhattisgarh can breathe clean air and access safe drinking water.”