Combat air pollution on war footing: Delhi Environment Minister

New Delhi  :  With deteriorating air quality in the national capital, Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain on Tuesday directed various departments to combat air pollution on a war-footing and also take mandated actions under 'very poor'and 'severe' categories of air quality index.

Hussian reviewed the preparedness and action plan of various stakeholder departments for implementing the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) mandated by Supreme Court for combating and mitigating air pollution in Delhi.

In a meeting chaired by Hussain, the three municipal corporations informed that mechanical sweeping of the roads, including PWD roads, is going on regularly for preventing suspension and re-suspension of dust due to plying of vehicles.

The three municipal corporations and NDMC were directed to ensure that no uncovered building material is permitted on their respective roads, said an official statement.

"They were also directed to ensure that the conditions laid down in sanctioned building plan for construction of building are strictly followed by the owners and builders for effective control of dust," it said.

It was also decided that two joint teams of officials from revenue department, respective municipal corporations and civil defence volunteers are deputed in each of the districts for monitoring construction activity and taking preventing and punitive action against the violators of dust control norms, it added.

The Minister directed all the departments and agencies to remain prepared for taking mandated actions under 'very poor' and 'severe/severe-plus' categories of air quality index in Delhi.

The Minister expressed the hope that concerted efforts of all the stakeholder departments will yield positive results and the Government, with active participation of citizens and children, will be able to control air pollution.