In a sign that the Centre’s directions on tackling Delhi’s hazardous air-quality have mostly remained on paper, the union environment ministry on Friday issued largely the same set of directions that it did last year. Days after the Capital’s air-quality plunged to a record low, the environment ministry stepped in and called a meeting of top officials from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, as these states affect the Capital’s air quality. But, it dug up last year’s action plan which included 42 short, medium, and long-term directions.
These 42 directions were issued on December 30, 2015 after former environment minister Prakash Javadekar held the first coordination meeting on air pollution with Delhi and neighbouring states. “All agreed to strict enforcement of statutory directions issued by Central Pollution Control Board under section 18(1)(b) Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, on December 29, 2015 and the directions issued on November 2, 2016 to 22 local bodies of NCR,” a ministry release said.
Environment secretary Ajay ment of the Centre’s directions has been weak. Speaking on the 42 short, medium and long term measures, Jha said, “After issuing these orders, five or six meetings have already been held at the ministerial as well CPCB level. Many steps have been taken. There are many areas where much more needs to be done. Special focus needs to be given on enforcement as it is still weak and states have been asked to make enforcement more strict.”
Jha repeated several directions and measures that were issued last December including vacuum cleaning of roads for preventing dust pollution, controlling vehicular emissions, control of open burning of bio-mass such as leaves, industrial air pollution and from construction and demolition works.
“Cleaning of roads is another focus area (where) steps need to be taken. Around Delhi, brick kilns have to be reviewed and to check pollution from them, all states have agreed and they have been asked to take immediate steps,” said Jha. Last year, Javadekar had said that mechanised sweeping of roads will be introduced to control dust on roads and had added that directions have also been issued to ensure strict action against unauthorised brick kilns in an effort to control air pollution.
Most of these works remain on paper and were also announced as measures to tackle pollution by Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia last week.
In addition to last year’s directions, the Centre has asked CPCB and State Pollution Control Boards to jointly inspect 17 categories of highly polluting industries in National Capital Region for compliance of emission standards.
To prevent burning of paddy straw in Haryana and Punjab, the Delhi government has been asked to examine possibility of funding machinery that can be used in neighbouring states. The Centre has asked it to look at the environment compensation charge and diesel cess to fund such machinery. Besides, Punjab’s agriculture ministry will ask the union agriculture ministry to fund a scheme to provide farm machinery for managing paddy straw.
