Various administrative arms will soon come together to launch a concerted effort to improve the quality of air in the city, which has registered a significant decline since the commencement of the metro rail project.

The decision was taken at a meeting helmed by Divisional Commissioner Sanjeev Singh, who told officials from the district administration, municipal corporation, traffic police, RTO, and pollution control board to conduct a comprehensive campaign to rid the city of the growing menace.

He called for stringent action against polluting vehicles and instructed the Pollution Control Board to submit quarterly reports on the Air Quality Index (AQI).

Singh said that District Food Supply and Consumer Protection officials need to maintain stricter vigilance to check the unauthorized use of fuel (kerosene) in commercial activities such as restaurants and roadside food stalls, and to promote the use of LPG.

The Divisional Commissioner warned of action against farmers refusing to heed guidelines and continuing to burn crop residue; he underlined the need for a watch on known offenders.

He instructed the civic body to carry out water spraying to control Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) in and around dust pollution hotspots and highlighted the need for an immediate stop to the practice of burning garbage during colder months.

A study by ARI Pune has identified road dust as the primary pollutant in the state capital and stated that construction and maintenance of roads, filling of potholes, monthly PUC checks, removal of unfit vehicles, and testing of fuel purity could help reverse the trend.

The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) is currently running a 100-day campaign to improve the AQI. The civic body stated that water spraying will be used during the upcoming festive season to control SPM.

Top district officials, including Municipal Commissioner Harendra Narayan, Chief Engineer of the PWD Sanjay Maske, RTO Jeetendra Sharma, and District Food Supply Controller Meena Malakar, attended the meeting held at the commissionerate.

Long regarded as a haven with clean air and lush environs, rampant construction, ever-increasing vehicular load, and illegal felling have all contributed to the air pollution in the city.

Residents say that the situation has worsened significantly due to the ongoing metro rail project, which leaves a cloud of dust hanging over the sites where work is being carried out.