NEW DELHI: The SC-mandated Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) are concerned about air pollution levels during the upcoming under-17 FIFA World Cup matches to be held in Delhi in October. CPCB has issued an advisory to Delhi government on keeping pollution levels under control. At a review meeting called by EPCA on Friday, CPCB said there should be stringent implementation of the graded response action plan (GRAP) in October.
EPCA members also said that a CWG 2010-like embarrassment should be avoided since it was a prestigious international event and that the issue was recently discussed at LG Anil Baijal's review meeting on air pollution. The advisory states that CPCB will conduct an analysis of air quality and meteorology data for September and October 2015 and 2016 for guiding actions during the tournament; other FIFA venue cities will prepare a graded-response action plan similar to that of Delhi comprising preventive and mitigative measures from August 1, 2017; a "special action plan" will be implemented around the venues from September 15, 2017, which includes mechanical sweeping of roads, restrictive vehicle movement, shutting down of major polluting sources around the venue and stopping construction activities.
CPCB also plans to hold "mass awareness" drives for ensuring public participation in air quality management.
If there is a pollution emergency or severe spike during the event, all diesel vehicles may be restricted, closure of commercial establishments may also be ordered. State pollution control boards will finalise these plans and issue necessary directions to various agencies. "We have even decided to ask organisers not use diesel generator sets during the event," said Prashant Gargava, head of air quality management, CPCB.
The implementation of the action plan will be supervised by the district magistrate and monitored by the chief secretary on a weekly basis. There will also be real-time air quality monitoring stations and the data will be displayed at all venues, according to the CPCB advisory. EPCA members insisted on better traffic management and control on waste burning during this period. The "severe" category interventions like stopping the entry of trucks in to the capital, shutting down Badarpur power plant, intensifying public transport may be implemented under GRAP from October 15 just before Delhi's pollution season sets in.
NCR may get a network of 50 air quality monitoring stations this winter and Delhi will have a network of 33 monitoring stations by October 20. Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) submitted that its network of 20 new monitoring stations would be ready. "Even if we see one major spike, officials can go check what is causing it. We are going to be in a far better position once these stations start working," said an EPCA member. Haryana Pollution Control Board is supposed to install 12 real-time monitoring stations by October, but it is facing delays because the board doesn't have a chairman. Uttar Pradesh will also get 10 monitoring stations by October end.
Local bodies clueless about managing construction projects
Officials representing local bodies, including municipal corporations from NCR states, were at sea when asked about a new environment ministry notification, which integrates environmental clearance for buildings of the size 20,000 to 1,50,000 sqmetres into building permissions. The environment ministry, in a recent amendment notification published on December 9, 2016, exempted building and construction projects of all sizes from the process of environment impact assessment (EIA) and prior environmental clearance before beginning construction.
For smaller projects (less than 20,000 sqmetres) it even has a "self-declaration" clause, which will ensure issuance of permission from urban local bodies. For larger projects of more than 20,000 sqmetre size, the environmental clearance and building permission will be given by urban local bodies simultaneously in an "integrated format". When EPCA members asked local bodies as to what environmental conditions are being monitored for construction of building projects, officials said they were not aware of the notification. "These are big buildings, including malls. How will you ensure there is no pollution during their construction?" asked an EPCA member.
Members were also alarmed about the severe dust pollution in stretches like the MehrauliBadarpur road and broken roads in Ghaziabad, Noida and Gurgaon. "They have no real mandate for dust control during road construction. Guidelines will have to be given to them. How is it that there was no dust around DMRC site in INA, but the NBCC construction near AIIMS is always like a dust bowl?" a member asked.
