Closing down brick kilns, putting more buses on the road, increasing the frequency of trains on the Delhi Metro network and hiking parking charges were among the strict emission-control measures ordered for the National Capital Region (NCR) by the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) on Tuesday.
As part of the Graded Response Action Plan, the Supreme Court-appointed EPCA ordered the governments of the NCR States to implement the measures listed for ‘severe’ category of pollution.
Imposing fines
For the first time since the plan was notified in January and enforced in October, the AQI reached ‘severe’ in Delhi, as per the Central Pollution Control Board. With still conditions likely to prevail for the next two days, the EPCA instructed the governments to implement various stringent measures.
In a statement, the EPCA said States would have to close all brick kilns, hot mix plants and stone crushers. Strengthening public transport while increasing parking chargers by four times was also ordered.
State pollution control boards were asked to impose fines on agencies constructing roads if their dust control measures were not adequate.
While the National Green Tribunal had ordered ₹50,000 fine for dust pollution at construction sites, the EPCA ordered agencies to impose ₹50,000 per day per stretch of road for lack of pollution control.
The EPCA also ordered intensification of mechanised sweeping of roads and sprinkling of water. Hotels and eateries should be asked to stop using firewood or coal, the EPCA added.
The EPCA said the ongoing ban on entry of trucks not destined for Delhi should be intensified with physical checking of all vehicles at the borders.
While this is an emergency plan, there is a need for long-term measures, said EPCA chairperson Bhure Lal. “We have achieved some things, often in the face of enormous odds, and we have provided some solutions. So far, every solution that has been suggested has been contested and delayed,” he said, adding that there was need to “act decisively”.
