New Delhi: Amid reports of alarming level of air pollution in the capital, the Centre on Wednesday issued a 42-point action plan to handle the situation and directed Delhi and three neighbouring states—Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan—to implement them in right earnest.
While some of these points are supposed to be implemented immediately, the others will be taken care of in a staggered manner ranging from 30 days to one year. The directions were issued under Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981 that empowers the Centre to take action against erring officials after getting a non-compliance note from the states.
The states will have to get the local authorities to implement these measures by January 15, 2016. Subsequently, they will communicate the status of the implementation to the Centre before January 31. It will be supplemented with ambient air quality monitoring data being maintained by them.
"There has to be immediate action against visibly polluting vehicles. Directions include carrying out checks of the overloaded transport vehicles as it causes pollution, installing weighing machines immediately at entry points, ensuring no parking in non-designated areas, stringent action against bio-mass burning and immediate stoppage of unauthorized brick kilns among others," said Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar.
The action points also include decongestion of pathways, taking steps for retrofitting of diesel vehicles with particulate filters, allowing only those diesel sets which meet prescribed standards, introduction of early alarm system for commuters related to traffic congestion on major routes, formulation of action plan for creation of green buffers along traffic corridors and ensure proper collection of horticulture waste.
