n Delhi Lieutenant Governor(LG)V K Saxena on Friday reviewed the air pollution situation in the Capital and the preparedness regarding the same for the forthcoming winter season and underlined long and short-term issues and asked for them to be addressed, Raj Niwas said.

Giving details, officials said those at the outset, taking up the long-term issues, the LG underlined that despite the heavy monsoon this year, providing unprecedented relief in terms of AQI, the hazardous impact caused by vehicular emission and dust remain largely unaddressed.  Vehicular emission and road dust remain the largest contributor to air pollution in the city in terms of increasing PM10 and PM2.5 levels.

While a study by IIT-Kanpur had shown that percentage of dust as a contributor to air pollution had gone down from 26 to 20% between 2018 and 2022, that of pollution from vehicular emission had gone up from 39% to 47% between 2018 and 2022.

It was pointed out that percentage of road dust as a contributor to air pollution had gone down because of the COVID Pandemic when people were mostly indoors.  Saxena observed that the same would have increased multifold, especially in light of the condition of roads in the city and lack of coverage / carpeting of footpaths and flanks of the roads.

The LG asked the authorities to undertake an evidence based empirical study of the same and directed that concerted efforts be undertaken to repair the roads and ensure end to end ecologically suitable carpeting of all RoWs.  He directed the PWD and MCD to look into this issue in a comprehensive manner and initiate remedial measures at the earliest.

Similarly, the situation in industrial areas of the city was pathetic, with roads in disrepair, uncovered patches of earth and municipal garbage being dumped there.  This added to the pollution caused by dust and pollution caused by open garbage burning.  DSIIDC was advised to come up with comprehensive scheme for repair of roads, coverage of footpaths and disposal of garbage in the industrial areas.

While appreciating the addition of non-polluting electric buses in the city’s bus fleet, Saxena pointed towards the pollution due to vehicular emission caused by mostly empty DTC buses plying on roads without passengers.  The average occupancy of DTC buses stood at only 48%.

These buses occupied disproportionate road space and slowed down traffic, in the process augmenting vehicular emission.  He asked the Transport Department to rationalize bus routes and frequencies.

Taking up the short-term immediate measures, the LG directed that preparations be started at the earliest, without waiting for AQI levels to drop.

In this regard, he issued instructions like anti-smog guns that rotate on 180 degree fulcrum be placed on all high rises in the city above seven storey.

This, he said, had proven to be far more effective in terms of reducing ambient air pollution in comparison to their mobile version on roads.  While on one hand, they did not cause inconvenience to pedestrians, two-wheeler riders and motorists, on the other hand they also mitigate the problem caused by slow moving mobile smog guns on roads.  He also directed that possibility of placing these smog guns on foot over bridges also be explored.

As far as construction activities were concerned, it was instructed that the authorities start the exercise of ensuring that construction material remains covered and construction activities that do not cause pollution be exempted from GRAP restrictions.    

It was noticed that after completion of construction C&D Waste was left on the site itself causing dust pollution.  The LG instructed that this practice be stopped forthwith by the enforcement agencies and completion certificates be issued only after the left over waste is fully removed. 

It was also instructed that DPCC along with other enforcement agencies to start the exercise of ensuring that open fires of any sort do not exist in the city.     

A scheme of staggered office timings and working from home be formulated and implemented in advance.  Also, mechanical road sweepers, should compulsorily be fitted with / followed by a water sprinkler so as to mitigate the dust that flies during the process of sweeping. All concerned departments / agencies were directed to submit weekly reports on the above to the LG Secretariat. 

Those present in the review meeting included Chairman, CAQM, Chief Secretary, Commissioner (MCD), ACS (I&FC), Principal Secretary (Environment), Special Commissioner (Traffic) and other senior officers of the departments concerned.