Intensifying its steps to ensure clean air in smog-hit Delhi, the Government on Monday said officials found guilty of any kind of deliberate omission or negligence in controlling pollution in Delhi will be held responsible and punished.
This was decided at a high-level meeting on air pollution chaired by Union Environment Ministry CK Mishra and attended by Chief Secretaries of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh besides representatives of Central Pollution Control Board and other stakeholders.
"We will act decisively. The officials found deliberately neglecting action to check the pollution will be held responsible and penalize. Also violators will be punished. In the next fifteen days we will intensify the crackdown on violators, illegal constructions and action will be taken to reduce emissions. New technology is also being worked upon," Mishra told reporters after the meeting.
The northern States have been witnessing severe air pollution since last month, with the air quality even touching the ‘emergency’ mark, triggering anger among citizens.
The air pollution in the national capital was so toxic after Diwali that the Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) had declared a public health emergency in the Delhi-NCR and had advised people, especially children and the aged, to refrain from venturing outside their homes.
Also, a meeting of a parliamentary standing committee to discuss the rising levels of air pollution in the national capital was postponed as most participants, including Member of Parliament from East Delhi, Gautam Gambhir, skipped the meeting
The Delhi Government had urged the Centre numerous times to take steps to deal with the air pollution as it has blamed the stubble burning in the neighbouring states for the deteriorating air quality here.
A few days ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s principal secretary PK Mishra had reviewed the air situation in Delhi and other parts of north India wherein it was decided that the chief secretaries of the affected States will monitor the situation round-the-clock and take steps to tackle the menace.
The Environment Ministry official said sprinkling of water has been advised in many parts of Delhi to ensure dust settles. Punitive action will be taken over construction activities and Delhi has been asked to stop all waste burning in industrial areas, he added.
Mishra said he will be personally monitoring the situation on the daily basis. We discussed accepted air pollution plan while within the next fortnight, we will intensify our anti-pollution measure and review the situation as directed by the Supreme Court.