The Delhi Transport Department has cracked down on erring centres providing Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates and ordered action against 48 such facilities for “flouting norms” in certifying vehicles on emission, Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal was informed on Tuesday.
Following an audit drive, green panel EPCA had recently pointed towards widespread corruption and gross irregularities in PUC certification stations across Delhi and the NCR.
Mr. Baijal chaired a high-level meeting to discuss condition of air pollution in Delhi at Raj Niwas here where he set a deadline for the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to set up 14 real-time monitoring stations by October, 2017 in addition to directing agencies to ensure that immediate measures required to mitigate air pollution in Delhi were strictly implemented.
Crackdown
The L-G also pointed out that a “reliable, affordable and comfortable” public transport needed to be emphasised in Delhi even as steps needed to be taken to ensure that sale of banned fuels was stopped.
The Capital has 971 PUC centres out of which non-compliant centres have been recommended for cancellation and suspension, a statement by the L-G’s office read.
While the statement did not mention the number of PUC centres that have been acted against, a senior transport department official put the number at 48.
Badarpur power plant
On the Badarpur Thermal Power Plant, the Power Department has been asked to submit a plan on its “complete closure” and the disposal of fly ash and ‘remediation’ of the site.
Meanwhile, it was decided that the Municipal Corporations and the PWD will initiate placing of procurement orders for diesel-run mechanical sweeping machines expeditiously.
Using garbage
On the enforcement of ban on usage of petcoke or furnace oil in industrial areas of Delhi, the DPCC has been asked to form special action teams to act against violators.
On garbage management at landfill sites, the Union Road Ministry has been “approached” to utilise the garbage at landfill sites in construction of roads and highways.
