Amid growing concerns over deteriorating air quality in the capital, the Delhi government has directed the departments concerned to submit compliance of the National Green Tribunal orders in time and work on an “action plan” to tackle the capital’s air pollution. It has also instructed the city’s transport department to prepare a realistic data of private vehicle of more than 15 years old.
Delhi’s chief secretary K.K. Sharma, who issued the directive at a meeting to discuss measures to control air pollution, has also asked the department to examine other “innovative solution” to solve the issue of parking of cluster buses in the national capital. The CS was informed by the transport department that about 28 lakh vehicles are more than 15 years old on the basis of registration data. Mr Sharma instructed the department to launch online website for getting information on vehicles 15 years and above, from private owners and update the data base at the earliest.
“This may not include the vehicles disposed off, sold, transferred and taken out of Delhi.”
About issues of the ban on vehicles more than 15-years-old, the CS said that the department may check with the ministry of road transport as to what stand has been taken by it keeping in view NGT orders and keeping in view the provisions of the Act.
Secretary (environment) Sanjiv Kumar informed that Delhi Pollution Control Committee and two other agencies are monitoring ambient air quality in Delhi at 20 stations. Noting that efforts have been made in the past to improve ambient air quality, the secretary noted that due to increase in population with a consecutive increase in vehicular population, construction activities in Delhi as well as NCR states, meteorological conditions including horizontal, vertical wind direction, speed has led to a situation which needs to be tackled at the earliest.
Mr Kumar said the government has formulated action plan for short term measures and long term measures required to tackle air pollution.
He also urged the Joint Secretary (UD) to inform Delhi Urban Shelter Board (DUSIB) to take effective steps for handing over the land for temporary parking by DUSIB at the earliest.
Special Commissioner (Traffic) said the traffic police has impounded about 1100 vehicles more than 15 years old after the NGT order. The CS suggested the department to take steps to ensure uninterrupted vehicles movement at optimum speed, reduce halt at red lights - traffic junctions thereby reducing pollution. The department requested civic agencies to list out parking capacity at various locations in their respective jurisdiction.
Representative of North Delhi Municipal Corporation informed that the corporation has developed six multilevel parking in its area. Due to non availability of contractor, the multilevel parking at Kamla Nagar is lying unutilized. Directions were given to utilise surface parking and enforce surface parking plan.
During the meeting municipal corporations, horticulture department, Delhi police and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) were asked to take necessary action to keep a check on burning of leaves, garbage, plastic etc.
For increasing the number of cluster busses with a view to strengthen Public Transportation, Commissioner (Transport) informed that they are taking the matter with DDA for providing parking space to accommodate 1085 cluster buses at the earliest. While the CS asked the department to examine other innovative solution to solve the issue of parking of cluster buses, it was observed that the road space occupied by buses is much less compared to equivalent car spaces.
