Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on October 25 said that Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) Chairman Ashwani Kumar has ended on an ongoing study to find sources of air pollution in Delhi on a real-time basis.
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Mr. Rai said that the DPCC chairman has overturned the Delhi cabinet’s decision taken last year to conduct the study and termed it as an “anti-people” decision by the bureaucrat.
“Today we have sent a note to the Chief Minister that Ashwani Kumar should be suspended as the DPCC chairman and take disciplinary action against him. Secondly, release ₹2 crore to IIT Kanpur, so that the study can be resumed. Also, a review of the study be done after this winter season by qualified scientists of this field so that further decisions can be taken,” Mr. Rai said while addressing a press conference.
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Mr. Rai said that the study was being done to understand what actually causes pollution on a real time basis and make plans accordingly to control it. The study was to be done at a cost of ₹12.7 crore.
This comes against the backdrop of an ongoing power tussle between the AAP government and the Central government-appointed Lieutenant-Governor on control over the bureaucracy in the Delhi government.
“This is not the first time that Delhi government’s officers have stopped pro-people works. Since the GNCTD Amendment Act came and before it the GNCTD Amendment Ordinance came, since then in the Delhi government, one after the other, decisions that benefit the people are being stopped by the officers,” Revenue Minister Atishi said at the press conference.
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On May 19, the Centre issued an ordinance that seeks to amend the Government of National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi Act, 1991 and effectively negates the May 11 Supreme Court judgment that gave the AAP government the power to make laws and wield control over bureaucrats deputed to the Delhi government.
The ordinance formed a “permanent” National Capital Civil Service Authority (NCCSA) with the Chief Minister as chairperson, and the Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary (Home) as Member and Member Secretary, respectively. The authority decides the transfer, posting and vigilance matters of all Group A officers and DANICS officers posted in Delhi through majority votes — making the Chief Minister a minority in the NCCSA.
On August 7, the Parliament passed the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, which replaced the ordinance.