Six weeks on, no progress on plan to curb city air pollution

The Times of India , Thursday, February 25, 2016
Correspondent : Shilpy Arora
Gurgaon: Six weeks after the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) directed the Gurgaon urban local bodies department to make an action plan and execute measures to control pollution in the district, the department is yet to begin work on them.

HSPCB on January 13 had issued a letter to the Haryana urban local bodies and PCB departments in Gurgaon to bring down air pollution caused by vehicles, construction sites, road dust, burning of biomass and industrial emission, with immediate effect.

The step was taken after the Union environment ministry, along with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), directed agencies falling under the Delhi airshed area to immediately take steps to control air pollution, under Section 18 of the Air Act, 1981.

Some of the measures the department was asked to take immediately, include installing weigh-in-motion bridges at borders touching the national capital, to prevent overloading, besides taking steps to prevent parking of vehicles in non-designated areas, taking steps against retrofitting of diesel vehicles with particulate filters, taking stringent action against burning of biomass in the open and ensuring strict enforcement of ban on the burning of agricultural waste.

However, PCB is yet to receive any report or action plan by ULB. "We have not received any report from the bodies. We will request them once again to submit the report at the earliest, as the measures should be in place before agricultural waste burning starts in April," said a HSPCB official.

According to the letter, strict action will be taken against the agencies if they fail to follow directions within stipulated time. "In case you fail to comply with any of the above directions within the stipulated time, further action will be taken against you under provisions of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981," states the letter.

"There have been some gaps due to lack of manpower. But we can't say that nothing has been done. Our focus is on cleanliness in the city which will automatically down the air pollution. Also, in the upcoming budget, we will keep in mind these targets and if possible increase capacity to achieve the targets," said MCG chief T L Satyaprakash.

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/Six-weeks-on-no-progress-on-plan-to-curb-city-air-pollution/articleshow/51132116.cms
 


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