LUCKNOW: UP Chief secretary Rahul Bhatnagar has issued strict directions to senior officials to take effective measures regularly to control air pollution in cities of UP. He has asked to ensure stringent action through a drive against polluting vehicles. He also said that it should be made sure that garbage was not burnt at any place within the cities. He stressed need to streamline the movement of traffic so that air is not polluted due to traffic jams.
He said that necessary action should be taken to stop polluting stone-crushers and earth work in building construction for the next two days to provide better quality air to people. For instant relief, he said that water should be sprinkled if dust persists even after cleaning of roads. He directed the municipal corporation not to burn city's garbage at all and sprinkle water as and when required.
He said that pollution control equipment should be installed in air polluting industries and regular inspection should be conducted. He directed for effective enforcement of ban on use of polythene. He directed the revenue department officials to ensure that farmers do not burn farming waste in their fields. He said that farmers should be motivated to use the farming waste in making manure or use it in other ways instead of burning.
Principal secretary, transport, Aradhana Shukla said that mobile inspection vans have been arranged to check and prevent vehicle generating air pollution.
Chief environment officer, UP Pollution Control Board, S R Sachan said, compared to Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR), effect of air pollution was less in UP. He said that manual air pollution monitoring centres have been set up in Lucknow at seven places along with one automatic air pollution monitoring centre. Besides, such centres have also been set up in other cities to monitor the air quality regularly.
