New Delhi : , Nov 17, 2017 – Work at home for 50% of government employees and for private office staff, closing six thermal power stations in Delhi’s 300km radius, banning construction activities until November 21, with exceptions, and allowing all educational institutions, schools and colleges to offer online classes as part of emergency measures due to severe air pollution. These would be applicable with immediate effect.They would apply immediately.
The directives, however, do not include lockdown as suggested by the Supreme Court while hearing a case filed by a minor Delhi resident, who has claimed that the severe air pollution is causing health hazards for him and other children.
However, the Supreme Court did not suggest lockdown in a case involving a Delhi minor who claimed severe air pollution was posing health risks to him and his family.
The Commission for Air Quality Management for Delhi and Surrounding Areas (CAQM), an agency under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), on Tuesday held an emergency meeting wherein it was decided to shut down all industries that are running on non-gas fuels for all NCR states; no entry of trucks in Delhi till November 21, except those carrying essential goods; no diesel or petrol vehicles more than 15 years to run on Delhi roads and no plying of visibly polluting vehicles with stricter checks about PUC certificate.
On Tuesday, the Commission for Air Quality Management for Delhi and Surrounding Areas, an agency of Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, held an emergency meeting.It was resolved to close all non-gas industries in all NCR states.
No trucks will be allowed to enter Delhi until November 21.There will also not be any diesel or petrol vehicles older than 15 years that can run on Delhi roads.Also, there will no more plying of visible polluting vehicles subject to stricter controls about PUC certificates.
It also included deploying adequate number of buses/public transport; deploying anti-smog guns, water sprinklers and augmentation of dust suppressants thrice a day; penalty on persons/organisations stacking construction and demolition waste on roads, roadsides and a total ban on DG sets as per GRAP (graded response action plan, already in place since a month), the meeting decided.
Earlier, hearing the petition on Monday, the Supreme Court had reprimanded the Centre and the states, especially Delhi government, for their failure to reign in air pollution that had reached hazardous levels last week and is currently hovering on ‘severe’ and avery poor’ level.The Supreme Court heard the petition Monday and had previously reprimanded both the Centre and states for failing to control air pollution.
It had reached dangerous levels last week, and currently hovers at’severe’ and’very poor’ levels.
Every year around Diwali time and coinciding with the kharif crop harvesting in northwest India, air pollution levels peak sky high.
Air pollution levels rise every year at Diwali, which coincides with northwest India’s kharif harvesting.Amongst the many reasons, burning of stubble/parali by farmers in the region and the meteorological factors add to the existing air pollution that is prevalent almost round the year.
Air pollution is a constant problem almost throughout the year due to a variety of factors, including the burning stubble/parali fields by local farmers and meteorological conditions.
The apex court had also asked the states to meet and decide about the emergency measures.
Also, the apex court asked states to convene and discuss emergency measures.It was then the Supreme Court had suggested a lockdown for containing emissions/air pollution.
The Supreme Court suggested that a lockdown be established to contain emissions/air pollution.
Delhi government had even shown willingness for it but said it will wait for the court or the Centre to decide.
The Delhi government even expressed willingness to do so, but it said that it would wait until the Court or Centre decides.
On Tuesday, the meeting invited Chief Secretaries/Principal Secretaries of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan; Secretaries to Government of India in the Ministries of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Power, Department of Personnel & Training, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) for a holistic discussion, present their views and suggestions and work out emergency measures, as per the minutes of the meeting.
Before the states presented their viewpoints and presented the status of pollution in their areas, including readiness for measures to be taken for stricter actions, India Meteorological Department’s senior scientist V.K.V.K., India Meteorological Department’s top scientist, presented his views and the state of pollution.Soni gave a perspective of the air quality, wind velocity, mixing depths, directions etc.Soni presented a view of air quality, wind velocity and mixing depths as well as directions.
The air quality in the Delhi-NCR is likely to remain ‘severe’ on Tuesday night, improving to ‘very poor’ on Wednesday and Thursday.
On Tuesday night, Delhi-NCR’s air quality is expected to be’severe’.It will improve to’very bad’ by Wednesday and Thursday.It would remain so till November 21 and improve thereafter.The air quality would be the same until November 21, and then improve.PM2.5 would be the predominant pollutant, he said.He stated that PM2.5 would remain the most prevalent pollutant.
The Commission has asked for a compliance report from the officials concerned before November 22.Commission requested compliance reports from all officials involved before November 22.
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