Months after arming the Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) with powers to check growing pollution, the Delhi Government has decided to empower its Revenue Department officials to crack the whip on the offenders.
On the eve of World Environment Day, Delhi Environment Minister Asim Ahmed Khan enumerated
several steps taken by the AAP Government towards improving the Capital’s hazardous air quality.
Blaming the previous Governments of completely failing to tackle pollution, Khan stressed that Arvind Kejriwal-led dispensation was laying more emphasis on working on the ground rather than on paper.
Speaking on the sidelines of Delhi Environment Summit, he said, “As per the order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to stop burning of trash and dry leaves in the open, we are empowering tehsildars of Revenue Department to take action against the offenders.”
Earlier, the Government had asked all SDMs to crack down on open burning of garbage, plastics and leaves in Delhi. It had also announced a helpline number (9717593574), for registration of complaints in this regard.
Claiming that combating pollution is not the responsibility of only Delhi, Khan said that the Government has had talks with the Centre and other NCR States as well.
“We have already had two rounds of meeting,” he said, adding that the AAP Government had adopted the policy of handing over “plant saplings” while welcoming guests instead of the usual norm of greeting with flower bouquets. “We are also focusing on plantation. We plan to plant 14 lakh saplings,” he added.