War Mode: Hussain directs officers, agencies to step up pollution measures

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 23

Environment Minister Imran Hussain on Tuesday directs officials of the Industries Department and DSIIDC to put into action the plan for proper disposal of waste generated by the industrial units especially in Narela and Bawana industrial areas.

The officers concerned informed the minister that night marshals have also been deputed to keep a vigil on the incidence of fire burning in industrial areas at night.

Hussain was reviewing the preparedness and action plan of the various stakeholder departments for implementing the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) mandated by the Supreme Court for combating air pollution in Delhi.

The three municipal corporations (MCDs) and NDMC were directed to ensure that no uncovered building material is permitted on their respective roads. They were also directed to ensure that the conditions laid down in sanctioned building plan for construction of building are strictly followed by the owners and builders for effective control of dust.

It was also decided that two joint teams of officials from the revenue department, respective MCDs and civil defence volunteers are deputed in each of the districts for monitoring construction activity and taking preventing and punitive action against the violators of dust control norms.

In this regard, special emphasis was laid on the MCDs and PWD to ensure that dust control norms are strictly complied by them also while undertaking building construction activity. The minister asked the Delhi Metro to ensure that construction activity does not lead to aggravation of air pollution in Delhi.

Hussain directed the PWD and Delhi Fire Services to undertake water sprinkling especially after Diwali for settling the suspended dust particles while asking all the stakeholder departments and agencies to remain prepared for taking mandated actions under ‘very poor’ and ‘severe/ severe plus’ categories of air quality index in Delhi.

The three MCDs informed that mechanical sweeping of the roads including the PWD roads is going on regularly for preventing suspension and re-suspension of dust due to plying of vehicles.

The Transport Department informed that the present strength of 25 odd vehicles has been doubled from this week for monitoring and for taking action against the visible polluting vehicles, vehicles not having pollution certificates and against the vehicles more than 15 years old while the traffic police have been actively diverting non-destined vehicles from entering into Delhi.

The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary, commissioners of north, south and east MCDs, Chairman NDMC, secretaries (environment, transport & power), Special Secretary (Industries), Chief Engineer (PWD) along with other senior officers of the departments/ agencies concerned.

He urged all three MCD commissioners to ensure control of instances of burning in open and compliance of dust control measures, failing which senior officers should be held accountable.