Ahead of Diwali and the onset of winter, strict measures, including shutting down of the Badarpur power plant and improving public transport, to curb air pollution in the National Capital Region would be rolled out on Tuesday.
As per a Supreme Court order, the Graded Response Action Plan for the NCR involves stringent measures against burning of waste, industrial pollution and transport sector emissions. Notified by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest in January, this would be the first winter for the plan.
Poor air quality
Though the Air Quality Index for Delhi was ‘poor’ on Monday as per the Central Pollution Control Board, the measures prescribed for at least the ‘very poor’ category would be in force all winter. In measures for the very poor category, are stopping the use of diesel generator sets, increasing parking fees by three to four times, increasing frequency of public transport, stopping use of coal or firewood by restaurants and giving health advisory alerts through the media.
The Badarpur plant would be shut on Tuesday, though it was supposed to be from October 15. As per officials, the closing of the plant was delayed due to the FIFA under-17 World Cup games being held in the city as the plant provides power to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. The last match of the tournament at JLN was on Monday.
As per experts, Delhi is headed into winter better prepared than previous years.
Anumita Roychowdhury, an executive-director of the Centre for Science and Environment, said that state governments in the NCR were getting ready to implement the plan.
“Theoretically, if all the measures under the very poor category of the plan are implemented fully, then we should not reach severe levels of air pollution. However, external weather conditions may change that,” she said.
