IOC Jaipur fire and Environmental Impacts continue

Environmentalists were assessing the toxic impact of the devastating fire at the IOC depot in Jaipur on environment, sources said. While Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board has set up a committee for the purpose, the Central Pollution Control Board was also monitoring the situation. ''Environmental damage caused by the fire could be worse as a variety of toxic gases are polluting the environment'', said a State Pollution Control Board official. ''We can not say what the damage has been, but we are monitoring sulphur dioxide, suspended particulate matter (SPM), respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) and oxides of nitrogen. The damage can not be quantified at this point of time, but we have set up a committee to see the combined effect of all the pollutants and take remedial measures'', he said. Officials of Central Pollution Control Board were also working here to assess the damage, the Board sources said.