New Delhi, November 3 (IANS). Nearly 54,000 vehicles that do not have Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates have been challaned in the National Capital Region (NCR). At the same time, more than 3,900 such vehicles have been seized, whose time limit has been completed. Apart from this, 56 construction sites have been closed. All the action has been taken with the aim of reducing air pollution in Delhi.
Now these efforts will be further intensified to control air pollution in Delhi-NCR. Actually, the first phase of lockdown is in force in the entire NCR from October 15 and the second phase of lockdown from October 22. During the period from 15 to 31 October, several preventive measures were initiated to reduce air pollution in the region. According to the Union Environment Ministry, apart from confiscating polluting vehicles, many other actions are being taken to stop pollution.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has set up a Grape Monitoring Control Room for monitoring. This monitoring control room remains operational throughout the week.
According to Grape, inspection of C&D sites by concerned agencies has been intensified to ensure adherence to air pollution control measures. On the basis of such inspections, action is being taken against units not following the rules. Over 7,000 C&D sites were inspected across NCR and Environment Compensation (EC) has been imposed on 597 non-compliant sites. At the same time, orders have been issued to close 56 sites.
The Union Environment Ministry says that mechanical road sweeping machines, water sprinklers and anti-smog guns have been deployed to control road dust. To control dust pollution at its source, the number of road sweeping machines, water sprinklers and ASGs have been increased across NCR.
If we talk about Delhi, an average of 81 mechanical road sweeping machines have been deployed daily in Delhi alone, whereas in Haryana and UP, 36 MRSMs are deployed daily to prevent dust pollution on the roads. Similarly, on an average around 600 water sprinklers and anti smog guns have been deployed across the NCR on a daily basis.
An intensive campaign was launched to challan vehicles for not maintaining PUC, causing direct pollution, carrying garbage etc. Older vehicles plying on the road were also confiscated. About 54,000 vehicles were challaned. Whereas, around 3,900 over-aged vehicles have been seized.
According to the Union Environment Ministry, intensive inspections were conducted for illegal dumping sites across NCR. Necessary action was taken against illegal sites. More than 5,300 such inspections were conducted. Around 1,400 industries and 1,300 DG sets were inspected by NCR agencies and action was taken against non-compliant units.
–IANS
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