Centre to agencies: Time-bound steps to cut pollution

The Union environment ministry on Wednesday issued a string of directives to all agencies falling under Delhi airshed area to immediately take steps to control air pollution as well as improve outdoor air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).

State pollution control boards and pollution control committees of Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh have been directed to take time-bound steps under Section 18 of Air Act, 1981, to curb the dangerous levels of air pollution in the area.

The set of 42 specific directions aim to control pollution across the categories of vehicular emissions, road dust, biomass burning and industrial pollution, among others.

Addressing a press briefing, environment minister Prakash Javadekar said urgent steps would be taken to control vehicular emission. These include ensuring strict action against visibly polluting vehicles, installation weighing bridges at all major roads entering Delhi border to prevent overloading, and steps to prevent parking of vehicles in non-designated zones.

Other measures such as installation of vapour-recovery system in fueling stations and synchronisation of traffic movements or intelligent traffic systems have also been prescribed, which have to be implemented within 30 days.

Long-term measures such as road widening, promotion of battery-operated vehicles, and installation of remote sensor-based pollution under control system have been given 90 days to be implemented.

To deal with road dust, mechanised sweeping of roads will be introduced along with the construction of green buffers along major traffic corridors.

While reiterating that open burning of farm waste will be dealt with sternly, the ministry also ordered proper collection of such waste and promotion of better composting practices. It ordered coal to be prohibited for cooking in hotels and restaurants and the same for kerosene in households within the next 60 days.

The agencies will have to communicate the status of the implementation before January 31, 2016 supplemented with ambient air quality monitoring data being maintained by them.

The minister added that to control air pollution from construction and demolition activities, municipal agencies have been asked to undertake water sprinkling and putting up curtains and barriers.

Directions have also been issued to ensure strict action against unauthorised brick kilns to control air pollution caused by industries. The minister also said construction material can only be carried in covered vehicles.

Some measures by Environment Minnistry to control Pollution in Delhi and NCR
Sl. No.	Action Points	Time Frame for implementation
ii)	Ensure Strict action against visibly polluting vehicles;	Immediate
iii)	Install weigh in motion bridges at Delhi borders to prevent overloading;	Immediate
iv)	Take steps to prevent parking of vehicles in the non-designated areas;	Immediate
vii)	Take steps for retrofitting of diesel vehicles with Particulate Filters;	Immediate
ix)	Synchronize traffic movements / Introduce intelligent traffic systems for lane-driving;	30 days
x)	Install vapor recovery system in fueling stations	30 days
xiv)	Prepare action plan for public transport on CNG mode;	90 days
xvi)	Promote battery operated vehicles;	90 days

Control of Road Dust/Re-suspension of dust and other fugitive emission
Sl. No.	Action Points	Time Frame for implementation
i)	Formulate action plan for creation of green buffers along the traffic corridors;	Immediate
ii)	Introduce wet/ mechanized vacuum sweeping of roads;	30 days
v)	Undertake greening of open areas, gardens, community places, schools and housing societies.	90 days
vi)	Take steps for blacktopping / pavement of road shoulders to avoid road dust;	180 days

Control of Air Pollution from Bio-Mass Burning
Sl. No.	Action Points	Time Frame for implementation
ii)	Ensure proper collection of horticulture waste (bio-mass) and composting–cum-gardening approach;	Immediate
iii)	Ensure strict enforcement of ban on burning of agriculture waste and crop residues	Immediate
iv)	Prohibit use of coal in hotels and restaurants and eliminate use of kerosene for cooking  in Delhi;	60 days

Control of Industrial Air Pollution
Sl. No.	Action Points	Time Frame for implementation
i)	Ensure strict action against unauthorized brick kilns	30 days
ii)	Ensure strict action against industrial units not complying with standards ;	60 days
iv)	Launch action plan for switching over to natural gas by industries, wherever feasible.	120 days

Control of Air Pollution from Construction and Demolition Activities
Sl. No.	Action Points	Time Frame for implementation
i)	Control dust pollution at construction sites through appropriate cover	Immediate
ii)	Undertake control measures for fugitive emissions from material handling, conveying and screening operations through water sprinkling, curtains, barriers and dust suppression units;	30 days
iii)	Ensure carriage of construction material in closed/covered vessels;	30 days

Other Steps to control Air Pollution
Sl. No.	Action Points	Time Frame for implementation
i)	Set-up helpline in States/UT for taking action against reported non-compliance;	Immediate
iii)	Establish Standard Operating Procedure to provide quick and effective response to complaints	30 days
iv)	Take steps for maximizing coverage of LPG / PNG  for domestic cooking purposes with intention of achieving 100%;	90 days
vii)	Undertake Satellite based monitoring for tracking and enforcing agriculture waste burning;	90 days
viii)	Take steps for setting up of bio-mass based power generation units to avoid bio-mass burning.	One year