What have you done to reduce air pollution: NGT to Delhi, Centre

The Times of India , Saturday, December 17, 2016
Correspondent : TNN
New Delhi: National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday sought to know from the Delhi government and the Centre as to what they had done so far about air pollution. It also asked municipal corporations if they had deputed 50% of their staff to improve the air quality on any day.

"Have you done a single thing to control pollution? Please mention what you have done to control dust, waste burning, and vehicular emissions," the bench asked adding, "When was your 50% staff on the roads to control air pollution?"

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) submitted air quality data for four parameters, which was recorded by its six stations between December 7 and December 14—NSIT Dwarka, IHBAS Dilshad Garden, DMS Shadipur, DTU Siri Fort and ITO. Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) had submitted its data for eight parameters on Thursday.

"How come there is so much variation in the data? Have you analysed the contributing factors in these areas," the bench headed by justice Swatanter Kumar asked.

Lawyers submitted that the monitoring stations are at different locations, which is why there was a variation in levels. The bench directed both DPCC and CPCB to give daily readings but divide them into four parts so that the pollution trends through the day were visible.

Meanwhile, the lieutenant governor held a review meeting on air pollution on Friday during which he asked the transport department to consider reducing fares of DTC buses to promote public transport, at least for the next couple of months. The transport minister assured that the department would work out modalities to reduce bus fares across various slabs.

The environment secretary informed the LG that Delhi's pollution levels were 20% higher because the air quality recorded at Anand Vihar was highly toxic. Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) member Sunita Narain, who participated in LG's meeting, along with heads of various departments, recommended that the Anand Vihar bus depot be completely paved to reduce dust re-suspension, fire at the Ghazipur landfill be brought under control and dust control measures be adopted at the integrated freight complex.

The environment secretary also flagged the problem of idling of vehicles—200 traffic bottlenecks have been identified by the department and the data shared with agencies concerned. It was suggested that traffic congestion can be eased through road-engineering, relocation of bus stops and traffic cycle management. By February-end all U-turns at Delhi borders will be shut so that non-destined vehicles can be turned away.

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/What-have-you-done-to-reduce-air-pollution-NGT-to-Delhi-Centre/articleshow/56027960.cms?
 


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