The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) today submitted in the Supreme Court its action plan to tackle the menace of air pollution and recommended slew of measures including ban on construction activities and implementation of odd-even scheme in the national capital.
The apex pollution monitoring body classified different levels of air pollution different levels of air pollution namely -- moderate to poor, very poor, severe and emergency based on the levels of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 and 10 in the ambient air quality.
"While the worst category according to the Air Quality Index is 'severe', which in case of PM 2.5 is 250 microgram per cubic metre and above and in case of PM 10 is 401 microgram per cubic metre and above, another grade of health emergency level is proposed to be considered for more stringent action.
"The threshold for this category will be 300 microgram per cubic meter for PM 2.5 and 500 microgram per cubic metre for PM10, which are five times the standards. This is also consistent with the directive of the National Green Tribunal," CPCB said.
It recommended that necessary preparations, including identification of sources and action plan, should be ready at least four weeks and actions initiated at least two weeks in advance of anticipated critical pollution days.
The pollution monitoring body told a bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur that if the pollution level is "severe or emergency", entry of trucks into Delhi (except essential commodities) should be banned immediately besides stoppage of construction activities and introduction of odd and even scheme for private vehicles.
"In case PM 2.5 levels are above 250 microgram per cubic metre or PM10 levels are above 430 micrograms per cubic metre, brick kilns, hot mix plants, and stone crushers should be closed, Badarpur power plant be shut down and generation of power from existing natural gas-based plants to reduce operation of coal based power plants in the NCR be maximised," CPCB said.
Stressing on the need to augment and intensify public transport services during "severe" levels of air pollution, CPCB recommended increase in frequency of mechanised cleaning and sprinkling of water on roads.
"When PM 2.5 levels are between 121-250 microgram per cubic metre or PM10 levels are between 351-430 microgram per cubic metre, it is suggested to stop use of diesel generator sets, enhance parking fee by 3-4 times, increase bus and metro services by augmenting contract buses and increasing frequency of service, stop use of coal/firewood in hotels and open eateries.
"Residential welfare associations and individual house owners should provide electric heaters during winter to security staff to avoid open burning by them and issue alert in newspapers/TV/radio to advise people with respiratory and cardiac patients to avoid polluted areas and restrict outdoor movement," it said.
CPCB also recommended stringent "enforcement/stoppage" of garbage burning in landfills and other places and impose heavy fines on person responsible for such offences besides strict check on pollution under control norms.
It also recommended information dissemination through the social media, mobile applications to inform people about the pollution levels, contact details of control room and enable them to report polluting activities/sources to the concerned authorities, and actions that will be taken by government based on the level of pollution.
