While the air pollution level crossed the emergency mark — 300 mg per cubic meter of PM 2.5 — over the weekend, the Centre’s ambitious Graded Response Action plan was nowhere in sight. The plan is expected to fix responsibility of neighbouring states in reducing emissions that affect Delhi’s air quality.
Although a number of agencies are involved in tackling the issue, the lack of detailing as per the said plan is taking a toll on Delhi’s air quality. Almost a month after the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) submitted the plan in the Supreme Court, the government is yet to notify other states and agencies involved.
The plan involving three neighbouring states, Delhi government agencies, and municipal bodies is stuck in bureaucratic quagmire, sources said. A senior Delhi government official said: “The file is still with the secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). They are finalising the details. While all stakeholders are aware of their role in the plan, still the gazette notification has to come for them to start acting on it.”
According to an analysis conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), pollution levels on December 23 and 24 were seven times higher than the prescribed standards. “This spike was seen due to the decrease in temperature, and the wind speed to 1.8km/hour, which does not allow pollutants to disperse,” the report stated.
The pollution level at Anand Vihar went beyond 500 mg per cubic meter while in residential areas such as Punjabi Bagh and Mandir Marg, the levels crossed 400 mg per cubic meter and 300 mg per cubic meter, respectively. While there will be some reprieve from the dense fog in the coming days, the air quality is not likely to improve much as nights will remain cold, trapping the pollutants in the air.
VivekChattopadhyaya, Senior Scientist at CSE, said: “While combustion level has not come down in Delhi-NCR areas, including Ghaziabad and Faridabad, the weather conditions are making additional difference to pollution level. The city cannot depend on weather alone to make the air quality better. There is no reason why the CPCB should delay the notification process now. The air quality in the Capital will only start improving once the emissions in the NCR industrial units come down.”
Meanwhile, a senior CPCB official confirmed that they have not receive a notification from the MoEF. “We have held several meetings with all the stakeholders involved. Once we get the legal notification, we will be able to put the plan in action,” he said.
NO ROOM FOR DELAY
Pollution levels on December 23 and 24 were seven times higher than the prescribed standards in the Capital. Yet, the Centre’s ambitious Graded Response Action plan was nowhere in sight. The plan involving three neighbouring states, Delhi government agencies, and municipal bodies is stuck in bureaucratic quagmire. The file is still with the secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests, who are finalising the details.
