With little respite from air pollution in Delhi and its adjoining areas and air quality index (AQI) remaining in “very poor” category on the National Ambient Air Quality Index (NAAQI) on Wednesday, the Delhi Government took “ten key decisions” to tackle the air emergency after a meeting with the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
These include increasing the number of CNG buses on city roads, extension of ban on construction and demolition activities, closing of all educational institutions till November 21, work from home for Government employees, request to Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) to allow standing passengers in public transportation (Metro and DTC).
Environment Minister Gopal Rai said guidelines
have been issued to implement all decisions with immediate effect.
The national Capital could see further dip in air quality in the coming days due to unfavourable climate conditions resulting in low dispersion of pollutants in air.
Amid the blame game between the Centre and Delhi Government, Rai said despite several requests, Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav has not met with Delhi Government official to discuss the serious issue.
Elaborating further, Rai said, instructions have been given to police and transport department to ban entry of trucks, except for essential services. Moreover, the city Government has also issued directive to take strict action if more than ten--year-old diesel and fifteen-year-old petrol vehicles hit the city roads.
As industrial pollution also worsens, the Delhi Government will keep special track monitoring pollutants in 13 hotspots named red zone such as Anand Vihar, Punjabi Bagh and Mayapuri.
“Pollution will be kept in check at 13 hotspots of Delhi by water sprinkling using Fire Brigade’s machinery,” said Rai adding, “Immediate action will be taken against any industry that is found running on or emitting pollutants and violating the industrial fuel ban.”
“So today, this 10-point decision has been taken which will be launched with immediate effect as we are issuing directions for implementing them throughout Delhi. Moreover, as stated earlier, the “Red Light On, Gaadi Off’ campaign has also been extended for another 15 days, and so the second phase of this will be launched starting November 19. This is how we will embolden our fight against pollution and conquer it.” Rai concluded.
Meanwhile, SAFAR, a Central Government pollution monitoring agency, said, “From November 20 onwards surface winds are likely to be strong resulting in effective dispersion that improves air quality. The effective farm fire count is 2643 and its contribution to Delhi’s PM2.5 on November 17 is six per cent.”