Panel to keep a watch on air quality in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has set up a special committee to monitor air quality. The move comes after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directives to the government to draw up an action plan to reduce air pollution in Bengaluru, Davanagere, Kalaburagi, and Hubballi-Dharwad cities.

The air quality in these four cities are not within the prescribed norms of the national ambient air quality standards, according to a report by the Central Pollution Control Board.

Based on this report, the NGT asked the government to set up a special committee to prepare an action plan within two months. The action plan proposals have to be implemented within six months.

The chairman of the committee is the principal secretary, the forest and environment department, while the additional chief secretary will coordinate the activities.

The convenor is the state pollution board member secretary, while other members include transport, industry and agriculture commissioners, the director of the industrial and commerce department and the director of the municipal administrative department.