The Delhi Environment Minister on Wednesday inaugurated a workshop on “Prohibition on Open Burning of any Kind of Material - A Small Step Targeting Big Impact” at the Delhi Secretariat for the areas under jurisdiction of North MCD. The workshop was attended by the SDMs and officials of Environment Department, Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Municipal Corporations, DDA, PWD, Delhi Parks and Garden Society, Government/Private Schools and Colleges and Resident Welfare Associations.
Experts and senior officers of North MCD, Department of Environment, Government of Delhi, DPCC, Development Alternative (NGO) and TERI shared their experiences and suggested best practices to prevent burning in open and adopting alternate methods for disposing and managing wastes in environment friendly ways.
Hussain noted with concern that air pollution levels are continuously rising in the city due to multiple sources like open burning, industrial activity, construction activity etc. “High levels of air pollution have deleterious effects on human health and well being of the people. There is thus need for regulating and controlling air pollution from generating sources with the objective of maintaining the ambient air quality standards in respect of particulate matter,” stated Delhi Government.
NGT has also ordered complete ban on burning of any kind of garbage, leaves, waste plastic, rubber in open places in Delhi. NGT has also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on each incident of open burning.
Delegates in workshop discussed various kinds of harmful effects of open burning on ambient air quality of the city. Alternative disposal methods waste in order to avoid open burning in the City were also discussed.
Participants were advised to have personal interaction with participating North MCD officials who maintain and manage areas under North MCD.
He also appreciated the efforts of RWAs who have been continuously contributing towards making colonies and their surroundings clean and green. Hussain asked the participants to inform about incidents of open burning on DPCC’s WhatsApp Helpline number 9717593574 and also at North DMC Helpline Nos. 1266 and 9643096430.