Emergency steps to combat pollution come into effect
Dust producing stone crushers, hot mix plants also shut down
NEW DELHI: As emergency measures to check pollution came into force from Thursday in Delhi-ncr, state pollution control bodies have been directed to initiate criminal prosecution against violators.
Meanwhile, the Delhi government said it was fully prepared to implement an odd-even scheme to regulate private vehicles when needed.
“There should be no blame game or politics over pollution. This is a grave matter. We can make policies and laws
like waste management. We have given technical and financial support to bring down stubble burning,” said Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan.
Vardhan further said that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had sent 41 teams for the past one month on the field take care of the pollution
level. There are apps where people can approach these teams. “I just had a meeting Delhi environment minister, Delhi secretary and representatives from Haryana and Punjab. Last year we had a 15-day campaign around this time. We are going to have something similar this time as well. Around 70 teams will go to the field,” he added.
The environment minister also said that the government has collaborated with lung care foundations to spread awareness among students with the help of asthma manual guides for schools. The minister also added that over 300 sprinklers were put in action to reduce dust on the roads and mechanised sweeping of the streets was being done on a daily basis to minimize dust further.
In 2016, the odd-even scheme was enforced twice - January 1-15 and April 15-30 in the city when vehicles having odd and even numbers were allowed to ply on alternate days.
The Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) had earlier accepted the recommendation of a Central Pollution Control Board-led task force for the period between November 1 to 10 when air quality dips further due to the festive season and stubble burning in neighbouring states.
The DPCC order includes the halt of all construction activities involving excavation, civil construction to remain closed in Delhi and other NCR districts from November 1-10, besides closure of all stone crushers, hot mix plants generating dust pollution in Delhi and NCR districts. All industries using coal and biomass as fuel (excluding thermal and waste to energy plants) will remain closed in Delhi and NCR districts from November 4-10.
Two days after the air quality slipped into ‘severe’ category, there was a marginal dip in pollution level due to increased wind speed, but the air quality remained ‘very poor’.
NEW DELHI: The Capital’s air quality was again on the brink of ‘severe’ on Thursday, on account of stubble burning in adjoining states and unfavourable meteorological conditions, authorities said. The overall air quality index (AQI) of Delhi was recorded at 392, in the ‘very poor’ category.
PM2.5 levels in Delhi on Wednesday stood at 215 microgram per cubic metre (µg/m³), up to four times higher than the acceptable levels, and Thursday saw no change. Meanwhile, PM10 levels stood at 370 µg/ m³, almost four times over the safe levels.
The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA), on Thursday, instructed all construction activities involving excavation and civil construction (exclud- ing internal finishing/work where no construction material is used) to be stopped in Delhi and other NCR districts from November 1 to 10.
A circular from EPCA stated, “All stone crushers and hot mix plants generating dust pollution will stop functioning in Delhi and other National Capital Region districts from November 1-10. All industries using coal and biomass as fuel will stop functioning in Delhi and other NCR districts from November 4 to 10.”
“Industries that use natural gas as fuel can continue to operate. The order does not apply to power plants in the NCR (except Badarpur) and waste-to-energy plants. Also, all diesel generator sets in Delhi have been shut as of October 15, and the Badarpur Power Plant in Delhi has been closed as of October 15,” the circular noted.
The Authority also issued letters for shutting down brick kilns in Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. Brick kilns in DelhiNCR will also be closed from November 1 to 10.
Mundka industrial area will remain closed from November 1 to 10, so that all plastic and rubber debris, as well as other waste are removed by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, based on the EPCA’S inspection and directions.
EPCA has also instructed all chief secretaries of neighbouring states to set up teams to patrol and impose fines on violators for garbage burning, industrial air pollution, dust mismanagement and visibly polluting vehicles.