Expressing concern over the alarming level of air pollution in Bihar, chief minister Nitish Kumar has directed concerned officials for banning 15-year-old diesel vehicles in the state capital among other measures to improve the situation.

Presiding over a review meeting of the Environment and Forest Department on Wednesday evening, he also directed officials to launch an awareness campaign among vehicle owners and drivers about the growing air pollution in order to elicit their cooperation against unnecessary blaring of hooters, sirens and horns.

Among the other measures, the chief minister said a ban should be imposed on burning plastic and other solid waste materials within the confines of Patna Municipal Corporation.

The Bihar CM stressed on plantation of trees, poplar in particular, to check the rising air pollution and directed the Environment and Forest Department officials to set up a market at Hajipur Bazaar Samiti for marketing poplar plants.

Source: HindustanTimes