PMO Panel Asks NCR States to Intensify Anti-Pollution Measures

PMO Panel Asks NCR States to Intensify Anti-Pollution Measures

Traffic policemen wear masks to protect themselves from heavy smog and air pollution while manning the traffic, in New Delhi.

A PMO-led panel has directed implementing agencies and National Capital Region (NCR) states to intensify anti-pollution measures up to mid November so that there is immediate impact on air quality, according to officials.

The high-level task force led by the principal secretary to the prime minister held a meeting on Thursday to analyse factors contributing to the deterioration of air quality in the last week of October, the situation in the run up to Diwali and till mid November.

It also reviewed the measures being taken by various agencies to control dust emission in the Delhi-NCR region, a Delhi government official who attended the meeting said.

Also Read: Delhi Govt to Organise 4-Day Laser Show for Pollution-Free Diwali

Secretaries of central ministries concerned, Delhi's chief secretary, Central Pollution Control Board chairman, senior officers of Punjab and Haryana, and municipal commissioners of Delhi attended the meeting, the official said.

Official“After assessing the overall situation, particularly since crop burning incidents in Punjab and Haryana are being reported in significant numbers, the principal secretary to the prime minister issues a number of directions to intensify action being taken on the ground up to mid November so that there is immediate impact on air quality.”

Two days before Diwali, the national capital's air quality dropped to the season's worst on Friday, with the decreased wind speed leading to the accumulation of pollutants and affecting dispersion.

The city's overall air quality index (AQI) stood at 315 at 8:30 am on Friday, while it was 311 on Thursday evening.

Most of the places in the national capital recorded the AQI in the "very poor" category, while the situation inched towards "severe" in some areas.

The Supreme Court-mandated Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority also banned construction work at night in Delhi-NCR from October 26 to 30 and closure of industries that have not switched to piped natural gas.

(This story was auto-published from a syndicated feed. No part of the story has been edited by FIT.)

(FIT is launching its #PollutionKaSolution campaign. Join us by becoming an anti-air pollution warrior. Send in your questions, your stories of how to tackle air pollution and your ideas to [e-mail])

Also Read: Air Pollution: Delhi Govt to Deduct Salary of Negligent Officials