L-G reviews air pollution situation in Capital

The Lieutenant Governor (L-G) on Monday approved the municipal corporation's action plan to convert municipal solid waste to energy and asked them to come up with a system to incentivise the use of recycled products.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by L-G Anil Baijal at Raj Niwas to review the status of air pollution in Delhi-NCR. During the meeting it was also decided that for the closure of Badarpur Thermal Power Plant, operationalisation of Tuglakabad sub-station by June 2018 needed to be ensured.

"Badarpur has to give detailed time bound plan for disposal of flyash stored/generated at the site," said the L-G.

The meeting was attended by representatives of all government departments including environment, civic bodies and industries, among others.

Taking stock of the previous orders, Secretary (Environment) told that regarding setting up of real-time monitoring stations, the DPCC has initiated the process for procurement of 20 Real Time Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations. On the issue of mechanical sweeping, the NDMC informed that six mechanical sweeping machines will be in place by end of May 2017.

The L-G directing officers, said, that all machines should be on the road between May 2017 to August 2017. He said, "A Standard Operating Procedure for final disposal of dust collected by the sweeping machines must be evolved urgently."

Also, Baijal told his officers that a plan for plantation on roadsides, central verge be finalised before monsoon. On the augmentation of public transport, Baijal told the department to coordinate with traffic police to suggest corridors that can be developed for high-speed bus-based transit routes.