Centre approves plan to tackle pollution in NCR

New Delhi, March 12: The government on Monday said a Comprehensive Action Plan ( CAP) for management of air pollution “specifically” for Delhi- NCR has been finalised by the environment ministry.

The plan has a number of measures, including actions to reduce vehicular emissions and control dust from constructions.

Environment minister Harsh Vardhan in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha said the finalised action points to mitigate air pollution have been notified by the Central Pollution Control Board ( CPCB) for strict implementation concerned.

“A CAP for management of air pollution in Delhi and NCR has been finalised by the environment ministry in consultation by agencies with various stakeholders. “The finalised action points have been notified by the CPCB vide directions dated January 25, 2018, and March 6, 2018, under sections 3 and 5 of the Environmental ( Protection) Act, 1986 for strict implementation by concerned agencies” he said.

The plan has identified time lines for agencies to take action under various categories like air quality monitoring, action to reduce vehicular emissions, strategies to reduce number of vehicles on road and non- motorised transport ( NMT) network among others.

For authorities, it has time lines for them to take action in the parking policy to reduce congestion and pollution; and on traffic management, power plants and industries, generator sets, open and domestic ‘ chulha’ burning and open eateries. It also looks at implementing control measures for road and construction dust.

The CAP is “specific” for Delhi and NCR, and there is no plan for its implementation across the country, the minister said.

He said the CPCB is regularly undertaking various studies for source apportionment, health impact, air pollution inventory and monitoring among others.

There is no specific study with three months reporting time- line being undertaken by the CPCB, he said.