PUNE: Like the last few years, this year too, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is likely to miss the last date (July 31) for submitting the environment status report (ESR) for the twin township. The civic body, meanwhile, is preparing to submit the report by August 15.

While it's been nearly ten years since the PCMC has been preparing the ESRs, it was only in the initial few years that the municipal corporation could submit the reports before July 31, the stipulated date set by the government for all civic bodies. On the other hand, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has been submitting its reports on a regular basis before the stipulated date.

In the initial years, the PCMC prepared the reports with the help of private agencies. However, in the last few years, the medical and health department has been preparing the reports.

Speaking to TOI, K Nagkumar, chief medical officer, PCMC said the process of gathering information from various departments is on. "The municipal commissioner will hold a meeting of all departmental heads to take a review of various projects and their environmental aspects," he added.

Asked why the ESR could not be submitted before July 31, Nagkumar said information from various departments are still being gathered. He added that his department is trying to prepare the report by August 15.

The new aspect of the ESR for 2008-09, he said, will be to pinpoint the objectives of each department. "The ESR will also point out the need for making necessary budgetary provisions for environment-specific works," he said.

The focus areas, he said, will be sewage treatment plants, connection of the sewage lines with the underground drainage lines, slum improvement, river improvement, augmentation of water supply, and setting up air monitoring stations.

While the ESR will bring out the details of growth in the twin township, traffic and transportation scenario and various projects undertaken by the municipal corporation, Nagkumar said as per the Bhure Lal Committee recommendations, supply of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) has already started in the city. Similarly, there are quite a number of LPG filling stations for vehicles as well.

The municipal corporation has taken efforts to segregate movement of vehicles, and is planning to develop bus terminals at many places to improve public transport. Similarly, the municipal corporation has been doing progress in solid waste management projects, he said.

Asked about the benefits of the previous ESRs, Nagkumar said the corporation undertook the major work of constructing new sewage treatment plants. The previous environment status reports had pointed out that lack of public transport had resulted in high growth in the number of private vehicles. It had also pointed out that untreated domestic and industrial effluents was being discharged in large quantities in Pavana river.