Newly-formed Commission for Air Quality Management calls for enforcing existing laws, issues SOPs as blanket of smog over the region thickens
As the blanket of smog over Delhi-NCR thickened on Monday, reducing visibility at many places to just 600 metres, the newly-formed Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) enlisted ten measures, including the need for enforcing existing laws, directions and standard operating procedures to minimise air pollution on an emergency basis.
Recently formed to monitor and manage air quality of the National Capital Region and adjoining areas, the CAQM held a review meeting on Monday and asked the public to minimise use of personal transport, to work from home and restrict travel unless absolutely necessary.
Air quality in the national Capital and the adjoining NCR cities was recorded in the “severe” category with calm wind speed exacerbating the effect of stubble burning.
The panel also called for encouraging “coal-using industries in NCR to minimise the use of coal in the coming months”. It called for strict implementation of extant rules, court and tribunal orders regarding stubble burning and use of firecrackers and encouraging industries in NCR to minimise the use of coal in the coming months.
“Future action will necessitate consultation with various stakeholders. However, at this stage, the commission stresses on the need to strictly enforce existing laws, rules, guidelines, directions and standard operating procedures to minimise air pollution on an emergency basis,” the CAQM said.
The panel was of the view that active public involvement was “critical in the abatement of air pollution” and sought co-operation from civil society to report air pollution incidents on the Sameer App of the Central Pollution Control Board.
Major immediate measures suggested by the CAQM include strict enforcement of laws and rules regarding dust control measures, including at construction sites, and burning of municipal solid waste and biomass.
It suggested the implementing agencies to intensify water sprinkling, particularly in dust-prone areas, and use anti-smog guns at pollution hotspots, especially at construction sites.
Ajay Mathur, head of TERI, one of the non-Government members on the commission, said, “One of the key expectations of the commission is the ability of different States to come to an agreement to accept and implement the actions decided.”
Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) stood at 477 on Monday, the highest since November 3 last year when it was 494, according to Central Pollution Control Board data. Its 24-hour average AQI was 416 on Sunday, 427 on Saturday, 406 on Friday and 450 on Thursday.
Faridabad (456), Ghaziabad (482), Noida (477), Greater Noida (478) and Gurgaon (482) too recorded “severe” air quality.
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered “good”, 51 and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 “moderate”, 201 and 300 “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor”, and 401 and 500 “severe”.