Ranchi: The state urban development department is all set to start real-time monitoring of ambient air quality in three cities Dhanbad, Ranchi and Jamshedpur. The project would be rolled out in the municipal areas of Ranchi and Dhanbad, and in areas under the Mango Municipal Corporation, Jugsalai Nagar Parishad and Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee in the Steel City. Talking to TOI, the director of State Urban Development Authority (SUDA), Amit Kumar, said: “We have sent a proposal to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for real-time monitoring of ambient air quality. The plan includes installation of ambient air quality monitors at different locations and also steps to improve the air quality.”
Jamshedpur: Acting on long-pending demands from residents and authorised shopkeepers to remove encroachments and free footpaths of vendors, the East Singhbhum district administration has constituted task forces to evict the illegal hawkers and appointed special magistrates to oversee the process. The district authorities said the task forces comprise officials from Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee, Mango Municipal Corporation and Jugsalai Municipality. In large parts of the Steel City, food vendors and makeshift stall owners encroached upon roads and pavements, resulting in traffic snarls during peak hours and accidents. As part of the eviction process, DC Suraj Kumar instructed all top officials of the three civic bodies to take up the encroachment drive seriously and said the special magistrates were appointed so that there is no breakdown of law and order during the process.