The Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention & Control) Authority (EPCA) on Friday urged the apex court to issue “urgent” directions to Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan governments against polluting activities in those States.
The issues includes, massive quantities of plastic, industrial waste being dumped on vacant land and then burnt; dust from construction sites and industries visibly emitting black smoke among others.
Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Secretary, Vijay Dev, chaired a meeting on air pollution and directed officials to take necessary actions.
“The municipal corporations of Delhi were asked to use chemical dust suppressants on dusty areas on a pilot basis. Also the Chief Secretary ordered to increase mechanised sweeping and water sprinkling in all 13 hotspots,” a government official who attended the meeting told The Hindu .
The official also said that the government will be forming teams to check the construction ban to be in place from 6 a.m to 6 p.m. from October 26-30 and also to intensify night patrolling.
Meanwhile, EPCA Chairman Bhure Lal in a report said that after a visit to Mundka it was observed that NH 11 from Peeragarhi crossing to Tikri border is very dusty and dugged up and construction material and plastic was lying all around. “It seems the mechanical/manual sweeping was not undertaken since long. This condition is contributing significantly to the concentration of road re-suspension dust,” he said.
“Traffic police in Delhi and NCR towns will have to deploy additional manpower to ensure smooth traffic in all areas, especially at the identified high traffic corridors in Delhi. Visibly polluting vehicles have to be impounded,” a letter issued by Mr. Lal on Friday read.
