nIn the wake of the rising pollution in the national Capital, civic agencies in Delhi have started a series of measures to combat air pollution. All the three corporations have intensified mechanical road sweeping and deployed water sprinkles in large numbers to settle down dust which is considered one of the major pollutants.
The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and North Delhi Corporation (NMC) have deployed 152 water sprinklers to settle down dust. SDMC has issued 660 challans under 'Solid Waste Management' (SWM) rule of National Green Tribunal (NGT) for various violations and collected a fine of Rs 23, 76,100.
The North Corporation has deployed 18 mechanical road sweepers for cleaning roads. It has also issued 887 challans this year to owners of various properties for contributing dust pollution and realised Rs 17 lakh for the same.
Talking about other pollution control measures, a senior SDMC official said that action is being taken against burning of solid waste, garbage, dry leaves, plastic, and rubber. Besides, areas under SDMC jurisdiction are being regularly checked to monitor construction activities, he said, adding that apart from this, the civic body will also constitute three teams in each zone to check burning of leaves and other related violation as part of the measures.
In Central zone, five water sprinkles have been deployed and during 1st Oct 2019 to 12th October 2019 around 112 challans were issued for under SWM by laws and construction and air pollution under NGT Act resulting in an amount of Rs 5,000 as fine, he said, adding that more than 111 sites have been inspected to check burning of garbage and dry leaves.
The official further said that in Najafgarh zone, nine water sprinkles have been deployed and one water sprinkle is also deployed for the areas around air pollution hot spot at Dwarka Sector 8. Besides, it has deployed total of 24 water sprinkles in all its four zones.
The air quality turned "very poor" with the overall Average Air Quality Index (AQI) touching 318 micro grams per cubic (µgm-3) on Tuesday. The measures were taken to curb air pollution in the view of Graded Response Action Plan to curb air pollution in Delhi-NCR came into force on Tuesday, rolling out stricter measures depending on the need to discourage private vehicles on roads, stop entry of trucks, use of diesel generators, and closing brick kilns and stone crushers.