New Delhi, Oct 7 : The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has shot a letter to the Delhi government, seeking urgent action to abate the menace of air pollution in the winter season and also listed out the major polluting areas in the capital city.
In a letter dated October 6, the apex pollution watchdog stated: “It is observed that construction and demolition activities and open dumping of waste garbage continue to be the major concern in most of the areas and therefore, special efforts are needed to curb these activities.”
The CPCB, however, stated that some tasks to curb air pollution in the city have been accomplished but more needs to be done. It listed out six polluting sources — construction and demolition activities, road dust, unpaved roads, open burning, traffic congestion and industrial emissions — which add to the menace.
It also brought to the city government’s attention the directions issued by it in October last year regarding enforcement of micro and short-term action plans in identified hotspots, stringent actions against illegal industries, strict vigilance to open dumping and unregulated construction activities.
The CPCB asked the Arvind Kejriwal government to also take necessary action on the issues of open storage of construction material and C&D waste, proper implementation of guidelines for dust mitigation measures during construction activities, and random auditing of PUC certificates.
“In view of the above and considering the importance of the matter, I solicit your personal attention and intervention and request you to kindly direct the concerned officials or agencies to take immediate and effective actions to control and abate air pollution in Delhi,” the letter added.
The letter came against the backdrop of no winter plan being submitted by the Delhi Jal Board, the Public Works Department and the Irrigation and Flood Control Department.
The CPCB further said that Delhi has only one secure landfill at Bawana, but mixed solid waste is dumped at other three dumpsites — Bhalswa, Ghazipur and Okhla. As on date, approximately 280 lakh ton legacy waste is accumulated. “Early action has to be taken in this,” it directed.
The call for action comes at a time when the smoke from the burning of paddy stubble in Punjab and Haryana is also deteriorating the air quality of blowing to the national capital and its surrounding regions. This marks the beginning of the highly-polluted season that goes on to last for about three months.
With stubble burning, air pollution reaches a crescendo in Delhi-NCR every winter, when pollutants combine with the suspended water droplets in the lower atmosphere to form a thick blanket of noxious smog, thus creating health hazards for the residents.
Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from IANS service.