Govt forms 50 CPCB teams to check pollution in Delhi-NCR

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 14

The Centre today said strict vigil would be maintained against polluting activities in Delhi and neighbouring towns to ensure better air quality.

Fifty teams of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) will be deployed to make extensive field visits from October 15 till February 28 next year, it said.

The teams will visit Delhi and NCR towns — Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut in Uttar Pradesh; Gurugram, Faridabad, Ballabgarh, Jhajjar, Panipat, Sonepat in Haryana; and Bhiwadi, Alwar, Bharatpur in Rajasthan. They will specifically focus on hotspots.

“On-the-spot reporting of major air polluting sources such as major construction activities without proper control measures, dumping of garbage and construction waste alongside roads, open plots, unpaved roads and open burning of garbage/industrial waste will be done using SAMEER app,” it added.

Feedback on polluting activities will be shared with the agencies concerned through an automated system for quick action. Details will also be shared with state governments for timely action and monitoring at appropriate levels by the agencies.

A Central Control Room at the CPCB headquarters has been made functional for keeping track of pollution levels on an hour-to-hour basis and overall coordination with state agencies. In addition, district-wise nodal officers have been appointed for better management and coordination with teams.

Air quality in winter season is a major concern in the Delhi-NCR region. Efforts are being made for air quality management, but the problem continues to recur around this time of the year.

“Although gradual year-on-year improvement in air quality has been observed, a lot needs to be done,” an official said.