To review the progress of air pollution control initiatives and the problem of stubble burning, environment secretaries of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan along with officials from the Union Environment Ministry and representatives of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) will hold a meeting on October 1, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Tuesday.

“All the agencies were asked to make short, medium, and long-term plans in 2016 to fight pollution. The meeting will focus on reviewing the progress of these plans,” Javadekar told reporters here at a press briefing.  The Government feels that as the economic activities have opened up, air pollution is likely to rise to pre-lockdown levels.

Farm fires, which were noticed in Punjab last week, coupled with resumption of economic activities in the wake of Covid-19 lockdown has already started deteriorating air quality in Delhi.

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), which is run by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, the air quality in Delhi is set to worsen over the next three days.

“The problem of air pollution is not restricted to Delhi and NCR. It is a common problem of all the areas falling under the same airshed, which includes Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan,” Javadekar said adding that 50 teams of CPCB officials will be deployed from 15 October to monitor sources of pollution in Delhi, and recommend quick fixes.

The meeting, to be held virtually, will also be attended by chiefs of the Municipal Corporations of Delhi and the New Delhi Municipal Council.

Javadekar also listed some of the initiatives taken by the Narendra Modi government since 2016 to fight pollution. These include introduction of BS VI vehicles and fuel, incentives to boost e-vehicles usage, and completion of peripheral highways that prevent unnecessary traffic from entering the capital.

He, however, said despite all efforts Delhi is likely to see increased pollution levels for two-three months in winter due to meteorological conditions.

According to a report by the CPCB and the Ministry, cold, dry air, and ground based inversion with low wind conditions are responsible for increasing concentration of pollutants during winter in Delhi.

Javadekar also encouraged citizens to inculcate eco-friendly habits such as cycling to reduce pollution.