Fourth meeting chaired by Lt Governor to review the condition of Air Pollution in Delhi

· Fourth meeting chaired by Lt Governor to review the condition of Air Pollution in Delhi
· LG: Actions taken so far have resulted in improved ambient air quality in Delhi; we must keep up the efforts

· Graded response action plan, detailing measures to be taken by various agencies in event of air pollution levels reaching different stages of severity discussed today

· LG issued strict instructions regarding enforcement of ban of Diesel Generator Sets and Firecrackers, especially during marriages and asked Delhi Police to take strict action against offenders

· East MCD: Defaulters have been re-challaned and their information is being sent to NGT for higher penalty

· 43050 vehicles have been checked at the Delhi borders, out of which 8855 have been turned back

· Bhalsawa fire has been contained by depositing malba

Lt Governor Shri Najeeb Jung today chaired a meeting at Raj Niwas to review the condition of Air Pollution in Delhi.This is the fourth such meeting to be chaired by the Lt Governor, which is a follow up meeting to the meetings held earlier on 7th November, 15th November and 25th November in which many several measures were taken to check pollution in Delhi. The Lt. Governor was happy to note that actions taken by various agencies have resulted in improved ambient air quality in Delhi.
The meeting today was attended by Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister Sh. Manish Sisodia; Hon’ble Minister of Environment & Forest Sh. Imran Hussain; Director (MOEF & CC,GOI); Chief Secretary, GNCTD, Engineer Member, DDA; Pr. Secretary (UD); Spl. Commissioner (Traffic), Delhi Police; Chairman (New Delhi Municipal Corporation), All 3 Municipal Commissioners/Addl Municipal Commissioners, Engineer-in-Chief (PWD), GNCTD; Commissioner (Transport), GNCTD; CEO (Delhi Jal Board); Secretary (Environment & Forest), GNCTD; Secretary (Power), GNCTD; Secretary (Revenue)-cum-Divisional Commissioner, GNCTD; GM Engineer (NBCC); Managing Director (DMRC); Member Secretary (CPCB); Member Secretary (DPCC);Smt. Sunita Narain (Director General, Centre for Science and Environment); Smt. Anumita Roy Chowdhury (Executive Director General, Centre for Science and Environment); Prof. Manju Mohan (Centre for Atmospheric Sciences), Sh. Tarunvir Singh Khehar (Standing Counsel in NGT for GNCTD).

Lt. Governor sought feedback on the directions given in the meeting held at Raj Niwas on 25th November 2016 and its compliance from concerned departments. At the outset, Lt. Governor issued strict instructions regarding enforcement of ban of Diesel Generator Sets and Firecrackers, especially during marriages and asked the Delhi Police to take strict action against offenders.

The following was the upshot of the meeting held today:

1. Hon’ble Supreme Court had passed an order on 2.12.2016 regarding graded response action plan, detailing measures to be taken by various agencies in event of air pollution levels reaching different stages of severity. The graded response action plan was discussed threadbare at the meeting.
2. It was also decided that the Transport Department, GNCTD will chalk out a plan to promote greater use of public transport. The plan shall be discussed at the next meeting.
3. PWD informed that they have procured 7 mechanical cleaners which are currently being deployed in Anand Viharand by December end they would have bought 9 more such machines.
4. Commissioner, East MCD informed that 638 challans have been issued for violation of construction/demolition norms which amounts to 52 Lakh rupees; Defaulters have been rechallaned and their information is being sent to NGT for higher penalty. Besides, 149 challans have been issued to building material shops worth 2 lakh rupees. 352 challans have been issued to polluting factories and 13 factories have been sealed.
Commissioner, North MCD informed that Bhalsawa fire has been contained by depositing malba. The waste to energy plant at Narela is running on pilot mode and after the MoU is signed next week, shall become operational.
Addl. Commissioner, South MCD informed that 341 challans have been issued for violation of construction/demolition norms and 1003 challans have been issued for burning of dry leaves/garbage etc; 23 building material suppliers have also been challaned.
Chairman, NDMC informed that all the bins in NDMC have been geo-tracked and their status is available on its associated App. NDMC is also carrying out mechanical sweeping which will intensified in the coming days. NDMC shall also be sprinkling water once a week before sweeping on all its large avenues.
Spl. CP (Traffic), Delhi informed that 43050 vehicles have been checked at the Delhi borders, out of which 8855 have been turned back. 5344 vehicles have been challaned for not carrying Pollution Under Control Certificates. 63 vehicles carrying uncovered construction material have been challaned. 62 Diesel vehicles, which are more than 15 years old, have been impounded.
Transport department, GNCTD has issued 1349 challans for overloading. 2135 vehicles have been challaned for not carrying Pollution Under Control Certificates and 6386 vehicles have been challaned for being visibly polluting.
Delhi Pollution Control Committee informed that it has closed 40 Units of polluting factories in Industrial areas and 173 in Redevelopment areas.
Smt. Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment, highlighted the polluting aspects of using furnace oil and pet-coke as they contain high level of sulphur and requested the GNCTD to explore the possibility of banning use of both these in Delhi.
Lt. Governor asked all concerned to keep up their efforts. He shall be reviewing the status of air pollution in Delhi in a few more days.