Environment Minister chairs fifth meeting on mitigation of air pollution in Delhi NCR
The
Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar chaired the fifth meeting of the
Environment Ministers of National Capital Region (NCR) on mitigation of
air pollution in Delhi NCR, here today. Speaking on the occasion, Shri
Javadekar said that Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has set up a
Control Room (Contact numbers – 43102111 (landline), or
9821144193/9821144194, or controlroom.cpcb@nic.in) to enable people to
register complaints against cases of biomass burning and that 84 such
complaints had been received in the last three months and necessary
action has been taken upon them. He also reiterated the importance of
holding awareness-cum-training camps for 7, 000 sweepers in Delhi, so
that biomass burning can be reduced. Shri Javadekar urged the
Environment Ministers of NCR to strictly follow the directions issued by
CPCB under Section 18 (1) of Air Act, 1981. Shri Javadekar also
suggested quick implementation of the revamped Waste Management Rules,
including the newly formulated Construction & Demolition Waste
Management Rules to reduce air pollution. The Minister pointed out that
there has been a 30 per cent reduction in stubble burning and that the
states of Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan have banned
stubble burning.
Shri Javadekar also said that pollution due to dust, emissions from
industries, burning of biomass and vehicular pollution were among the
major causes of air pollution. He also said that pollution from
unauthorized brick kilns must be reduced.
The Minister also reiterated the Centre’s decision to implement Bharat-6
compliance for vehicles by 2020, which will significantly reduce
vehicular pollution. The need to install vapour recovery equipment at
petrol pumps was also emphasized at the meeting.
Ministers and representatives from state governments outlined the steps
that have been taken to mitigate air pollution. In Uttar Pradesh,
construction of underpasses has been started and two elevated roads are
being constructed. Work on widening of NH-24 is underway and stubble
burning in the state has been banned. Rajasthan government suggested
that plantation of more trees can also reduce air pollution. The state
government has taken strict action against polluting vehicles. Haryana
government has issued directions to all local bodies on strict
compliance of directives issues by Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change. One portion of KMP Expressway has already been made
operational. In Delhi, since last y ear, 480 polluting vehicles have
been fined, while the number of PUC centres has been increased from 702
to 828. The time of entry of commercial vehicles into Delhi has been
rescheduled from 9.30 p.m to 11.00 p.m and efforts are being made to
strictly enforce the new timing. Delhi government has also started
online monitoring of power plants and waste-to-energy plant. It has
also set up compost units in 346 parks in the city.
Prof Abhishek Mishra, Minister, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Raj
Kumar Rinwa, Minister, Government of Rajasthan and Shri Imran Hussain,
Minister, Government of NCT of Delhi, officials from New Delhi Municipal
Corporation (NDMC), Delhi Traffic Police, as well as officials from the
governments of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi were among
those who attended the meeting.
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HK
(Release ID :142374)
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