Tough measures mooted by the Environment Department to curb increasing air pollution are still on paper as it may ruffle a few feathers during election year. A high-level committee, headed by the chief secretary, has not met since August this year. A roadmap for clean air in Delhi was put up before the Cabinet in
August this year, but was deferred. The Capital’s action plan to curb air pollution was aimed at checking air pollution with the objective to meet ambient air quality standards in Delhi.
A study on air pollution showed that it is increasing in the Capital as respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) is showing an alarming upward trend.According to the action plan, work was to be undertaken under 10 major segments that include air quality monitoring, reduction of vehicular emissions, strategies to reduce number of vehicles on roads, strengthening non-motorised transport network, bringing in a parking policy, creating an urban transport fund, a clean policy for power plants, generator sets, open burning and control measures for road and construction dust.
According to the action plan, ambient air quality of Delhi is impacted not only by activities undertaken within the city, but also by the activities in neighbouring States.
The Government’s priority will be to curb burning of leavesand garbage. Battery-operated lED lights could also be introduced as an alternative to traditional lights used during marriage processions.As per plan, close to 121 entry points will be monitored by the corporations, Traffic Police and the Transport Department.
Officials said strict action will be taken against vehicles if their emissions exceed the pollution limit, especially those entering the city from neighbouring States. If vehicles, not bound for Delhi, cross the city, they will be turned away.
Vehicles’ exhaust makes city gasp
The action plan says that motor vehicles’ exhaust emission is one of the major causes for ambient air quality deterioration in Delhi as there are more than
74 lakh vehicles in the city. This does not include the vehicles coming from neighbouring States. Vehicular emissions contain various air pollutants like nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter and benzene — which impact ambient air. The concentration of NO2 has remained almost constant over
the decade with slight increase
in 2012. The RSPM has
been removed from the list
of pollutants, which have prescribed standards.