Study impact of industrial pollution on citizen’s health: PAC

Gandhinagar: The public account committee (PAC) of the state assembly, which scrutinises the comptroller & auditor general (CAG) of India's reports on the performance of the Gujarat govt departments, in its latest report tabled in the state assembly, directed the forest and environment department to study the impact of industrial pollution on citizen's health and ecology of the state.
The PAC directed the department to analyse the pollution caused by industries in the state and its impact on society and ecology.
The committee advocates conducting a comprehensive assessment of industrial pollution and its detrimental effects on the community whilst implementing efficacious measures to regulate pollution based on the findings. The committee proposed that the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) rigorously enforce adherence to established pollution control standards in the state.
Earlier, the PAC had also instructed the forest and environment department to establish state forest (conservation) policy in 2022; however, the department has not been able to implement it.
The PAC in its report observed, "In 2006, the CAG noted that the Gujarat govt has not implemented the national forest commission's guidelines to have a state policy for the conservation of the present forest areas and further enhance the forest cover in state, however so far the state forest & environment department has not made any policy."