LG CHAIRS HIGH-LEVEL MEET TO DISCUSS DELHI POLLUTION
NEW DELHI: Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday ordered the setting up of 14 more pollution monitoring stations by October and directed all agencies concerned to strictly implement measures to tackle air pollution in the national Capital.
Baijal gave the orders at a high-level meeting on pollution attended by, among others, officials of the state and central governments and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain.
“The DPCC will, in all, set up 20 more real-time monitoring stations. The LG has asked that 14 stations be set up by October,” a statement from the LG'S office said.
At present, the DPCC has six monitoring stations at Civil Lines, Punjabi Bagh, Mandir Marg, Anand Vihar, IGI Airport and RK Puram. Special teams should be constituted by the DPCC to take exemplary action against those who pollute, the LG'S order stated.
Baijal directed the concerned agencies to ensure immediate measures, required to mitigate air pollution in Delhi, are strictly implemented and to take adequate measures to ensure that sale of banned fuels is stopped.
Municipal Corporations and Public Works Department were asked to initiate placing of procurement orders for diesel-run mechanical sweeping machines expeditiously.
During the meeting, it was informed that the state Transport department has inspected 700 of the 971 pollution under control (PUC) Centres.
Non-compliant centres have been recommended for cancellation/suspension. PUC centres in Delhi-ncr are also being separately inspected by Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) as per the Supreme Court's order. Vehicles having expired PUC certificates have been told to be prosecuted by Traffic Police.
“As many as 4,547 visibly polluting vehicles were chal- laned by Transport Department in February 2017 and 60 unauthorised buses found plying in Delhi were impounded. Apart from this, about 400 unauthorised buses were reported in Delhi from 13 locations, on which necessary action has to be initiated immediately,” the agencies informed.
Baijal was informed that the Union Ministry of Transport and Highway has been asked to use the construction waste material dumped at the landfill sites for the construction of roads and highways.
The LG also asked the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to ensure last-mile connectivity and parking facility around various Metro stations.