In view of the alarming levels of pollution, the Delhi Government has once again written to all the civic bodies and the DDA to check burning of waste in the open, which it said continues unabated across the city.
Delhi Environment Department has shot off separate letters to the commissioners of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB) and the DDA among others to take “immediate and strict action” against violators of an NGT order in this regard.
“The reports regarding burning of garbage/leaves are being received. Fires have also been reported at the landfill sites of MCD. As you are aware that pollution levels worsen during the winter. The instructions have already been issued to stop the burning and also impose fines on violators,” Delhi Environment Secretary Ashwini Kumar said.
In the letter, dated December 2, he urged the civic bodies to direct their officials in the field to take immediate and strict action against the burning of garbage and biomass and also to impose penalty as NGT orders.
Earlier, in April, all district Deputy Commissioners were asked by the Government to ensure that Sub Divisional Magistrates carry out regular inspections and surprise checks.
The officials had been directed to designate nodal officers, to check such burnings in their respective areas on a regular basis and take necessary action against the violators.
last month, in two separate letters, Union Environment Secretary and Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) authority, Central Pollution Control Board had raised concern over the same issue.
Meanwhile, residents woke up to a foggy morning with the chill making its presence felt due to dip in the minimum temperature. The minimum temperature at 11.2 degrees Celsius was two degrees below the season’s average. On Wednesday, the minimum had settled at 13.5 degrees Celsius.
The sky was mainly clear through the day, the weather office said, adding the maximum temperature is expected to be around 25 degrees Celsius.
Visibility at 8.30 am was 600 metres when moderate to shallow fog were observed in certain areas of the city.