Alarmed over the rising level of pollution in Delhi, NCR and Uttar Pradesh, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar held a review meeting on Friday with his counterparts and enforcement agencies of Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
While one lakh vehicles have been challaned in Delhi, efforts are also being made to ensure smooth traffic and overloaded vehicles do not enter Delhi. As many as 57 industrial units have been put under constant watch in Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh.
In Rajasthan, 30 brick kilns have been shut down, nine stone crushing units issued a showcause notice and taken action against 12 other units. In Punjab, bailer machines are being employed to reduce instances of stubble burning on and off the fields. A suggestion has also been made to the Uttar Pradesh Government to provide subsidy for bailer machines.
Javadekar interacting with mediapersons after the meeting said that all the State Governments and agencies have decided to work collectively and also involve the people to improve the air quality of Delhi and reduce pollution.
He added that a decision to work according to timelines and with synergy between various organisations was also taken at the meeting. A three-month action plan and another action plan for one year have been formulated to tackle the four main focus areas -- agriculture, construction waste and demolition waste and vehicular pollution. Air quality monitoring stations will be installed in every state and by every organisation.
The meeting was attended by Uttar Pradesh Minister Abhishek Mishra, Environment and Forest Minister of Delhi Asim Ahmed Khan. Officers from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Central Pollution Board New Delhi Municipal Corporation, Delhi Development Authority, Delhi Traffic Police, besides officials from the governments of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi were also present at the meeting.