‘Delhi’s lungs almost gone, enforcement agencies to blame’

NEWDELHI: Pointing at the population pressure on the national capital and an inefficient public transport system, the Supreme Court-appointed pollution watchdog chairperson Bhure Lal on Monday blamed the city’s enforcement agencies for its worsening air quality.

During the winter, Delhi’s air quality regularly plunges to poor to severe categories. This month there were at least four days when the level was “severe”. On Monday, the air quality was in the “very poor” category.

Speaking on the challenges faced by Delhi and the NCR region in their fight against pollution, Lal said the Ridge area, Delhi’s green lungs, was almost disappearing due to illegal construction.

“There is rampant illegal construction on agricultural as well as public land across the city,” he said. “Despite such a situation, enforcement agencies including the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and the municipal corporations have failed to check the growth of unauthorised structures and encroachment.”

The chairperson also came down heavily on private vehicles, which his Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) had earlier sought to be banned in the city. According to studies on Delhi, 40% of total particulate matter (PM) are from vehicular sources.

“The number of cars owned by a family outnumbers its members. People are not ready to give up their cars. Residents must use available public transport and take out private vehicles only when required,” he said.