L-G Anil Baijal reviews plan to combat air pollution

Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Monday chaired a meeting to review the detailed action plan of agencies/stakeholders on measures to combat air pollution in the Capital.

Baijal directed all the three municipal corporations to ensure that no methane fires occur at the three landfill sites and for this they should take help of experts of the Science & Technology Ministry, Government of India and IIT Delhi. He also asked all three municipal commissioners to procure requisite mechanical sweepers, litter pickers, water sprinklers within a stipulated time.

The officials informed the L-G about the progress on constructive plan and regulatory plan focusing on transport department, industries & DG sets, Solid Waste Management, road dust & fugitive emissions to combat air pollution in Delhi.

For the action plan on Solid Waste Management, Baijal directed the commissioners of three MCDs to rework their action plan keeping in mind 100 per cent management of day-to-day generation of solid waste, including bio-degradable components as well as construction & demolition waste. "The plan should cover a time-frame not exceeding sixteen months and also indicate the exact requirement of funds," an official statement from L-G house stated.

Regarding the plan to tackle road dust and fugitive emissions, which is to be completed in eight months, it was informed that an assessment of all central verges will be done where watering on perennial basis is not possible, and all such central verges will be done.

"Further, large construction agencies like NBCC and CPWD that are working in the National Capital Region should set up their own facilities for processing C&D waste and reuse the products in their own projects. The L-G also stressed that agencies/stakeholders concerned must prepare an intensive awareness plan for anti-fire cracker campaign, plantation campaign, anti-polluting vehicle campaign, old vehicle campaign, lane driving," the statement further stated.

ACTION PLAN

• The L-G also asked all three municipal commissioners to procure requisite mechanical sweepers, litter pickers, water sprinklers within a stipulated time. He directed the corporations to seek help of experts.