Govt offers financial aid to civic bodies

The Delhi government, which has been attacking the BJP-led municipal corporations and the DDA over not helping it in combating rising pollution levels in the national Capital, on Tuesday offered financial assistance to these bodies with a condition that they should submit a viable action plan.

The step was taken after the Delhi government faced a lot of criticism after the disruption of the third Test play between Sri Lanka and India scheduled at the Feroze Shah Kotla stadium.

Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain made the offer while reviewing the status of the air quality in Delhi with nodal officers of implementing agencies/departments including Department of Revenue, PWD, Transport, three MCDs, NDMC, DDA, Delhi Cantonment Board, Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and the Traffic Police. During the meeting, officers of the environment department and the DPCC informed that the metrological conditions are causing smog in the city presently.

Hussain directed the Revenue Department to activate centralised help-line number so that citizens can report about instances of garbage/leaf burning. The municipal corporations were also directed to submit a report within seven days that no building material is lying stacked in open/alongside roads in their respective areas.