LG chairs the third high level meeting to discuss condition of Air Pollution in Delhi

On Nov 25, 2016

· LG chairs the third high level meeting to discuss condition of Air Pollution in Delhi

· LG: “The action taken by all agencies has resulted in improved ambient air quality. They must keep up their efforts”; PM 2.5 levels have come down by 1/4th and PM 10 levels have come down by 1/3rd

· 8 out of 17 U turns have been made operational at Delhi border

· LG: Those failing to pay challans shall be heavily penalized and their work would be stopped

· 6051 non destined vehicles turned back; diesel vehicles, which are more than 15 years old, impounded

· Smt. Sunita Narain: There is no evidence to suggest that construction sites are the primary cause of pollution in Delhi. Construction sites must follow well laid out DPCC guidelines for minimizing dust

· LG directs the MCDs and Delhi Police to ensure that DPCC guidelines are followed wherever construction is going on and violators are strictly dealt with and penalized

· LG constitutes a committee of the 3 municipal commissioners to work out a comprehensive plan for cleanliness and to check unauthorized construction in the city

Lt Governor Shri Najeeb Jung today chaired a meeting at Raj Niwas to review the condition of Air Pollution in Delhi. This is a follow up meeting to the meetings held earlier on 7th November 2016 and 15th November 2016, in which many measures were taken to check pollution in Delhi.
The meeting today was attended by Hon’ble Minister of PWD Sh. Satyendra Jain; Hon’ble Minister of Environment & Forest Sh. Imran Hussain; Chief Secretary, GNCTD; All 3 Municipal Commissioners/Addl. Commissioners; Secretary (PWD), GNCTD; Spl. CP (Traffic), Delhi; Engineer Member, DDA; Commissioner (Industries), GNCTD; Commissioner (Transport), GNCTD; Secretary (Environment & Forest), GNCTD; Secretary (Power), GNCTD; Secretary (Revenue)-cum-Divisional Commissioner, GNCTD; CEO (DUSIB); Member Secretary (DPCC); Representative from DMRC; Director (Works) Delhi Jal Board; 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).
The Lt. Governor was apprised that as per the directions of Hon’ble Supreme Court, Hon’ble High Court and Hon’ble NGT, a Central Monitoring Committee under the chairpersonship of Secretary (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, GOI) and a State Level Committee under the chairpersonship of Chief Secretary, Delhi has been constituted and regular meetings are being held at both levels. The Lt. Governor was informed that one meeting each of the two committees has been held on 17.11.2016 & 24.11.2016.
Lt. Governor sought feedback and compliance of the directions issued by him in the meeting held at Raj Niwas on 7th and 15th November 2016.
Secretary (Environment & Forest), GNCTD informed the Lt. Governor that PM 2.5 levels have come down by 1/4th and PM 10 levels have come down by 1/3rd from 15 to 24 November 2016. He also informed that IIT Madras has been asked to provide a report on air pollution every 20 days starting 1 December 2016, which will help monitor the levels in the city.
Secretary (PWD), GNCTD informed that 8 out of 17 U turns have been made operational at Delhi borders to prevent non destined vehicles from entering Delhi. The PWD department is also starting mechanical sweeping/vacuuming of roads to control dust. Lt. Governor emphasized the need to identify critical places/road where these machines could be operated first.
Commissioner, South MCD informed that 1305 challans have been issued for burning of dry leaves/garbage etc; 853 challans have been issued for violation of construction/demolition; sealed 5 buildings for dust pollution; 11 Diesel Generator sets have been impounded.
Commissioner, East MCD informed that 510 challans have been issued for violation of construction/demolition and have collected revenue of 6 Lakh 80 thousand rupees; 73 challans have been issued for burning of dry leaves/garbage etc; 340 challans have been issued to polluting factories and 13 factories have been sealed.
Addl. Commissioner, North MCD informed that 405 challans have been issued for violation of construction/demolition and burning of dry leaves/garbage etc; 12 industries have been sealed in non confirmed areas. They have also developed pits in MCD parks for burning of leaves.
THE LT. GOVERNOR STATED THAT THOSE FAILING TO PAY CHALLAN SHOULD BE HEAVILY PENALIZED AND THEIR WORK SHOULD BE STOPPED BY THE CONCERNED AGENCIES.
Spl. CP (Traffic), Delhi informed that from 7 to 24 November 2016, 27,798 vehicles have been checked at the Delhi borders, out of which 6051 have been turned back. Advisories have been issued to neighboring states to prevent such vehicles from entering Delhi. 4464 vehicles have been challaned for not carrying Pollution Under Control Certificates between 7 to 24 November 2016. Diesel vehicles, which are more than 15 years old, have been impounded.
The Lt. Governor directed the Transport Department, GNCTD to examine and suitably amend the Motor Vehicles Act to provide for destruction of impounded vehicles.
Delhi Pollution Control Committee informed that it has closed 32 Units of polluting factories in Industrial areas and 163 in Redevelopment areas.
Minister (PWD) submitted that Traffic Police must ensure that the Trucks drive in the left lane alone and their entry into the city, as per the Lt. Governor’s directions, should be only after 12 midnight.
Sh. Tarunvir Singh Khehar, Standing Counsel in NGT for GNCTD raised the issue about garbage dumping sites at Ghazipur and Bawana and they working at full capacity. The Lt. Governor asked for a report to be tabled on these two sites in the next meeting.
Smt. Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Environment, stated that there is no evidence to suggest that construction sites are the primary cause of pollution in Delhi. It is important that construction sites follow well laid out DPCC guidelines for minimizing dust.
The Lt Governor directed the MCDs and Delhi Police to ensure that DPCC guidelines are strictly followed wherever construction is going on and violators are strictly dealt with and penalized. Delhi Pollution Control Committee was asked to share the database of construction sites with the concerned agencies so that they can be monitored.
The Lt. Governor also constituted a committee of the three municipal commissioners to work out a comprehensive plan for cleanliness and to check unauthorized construction going on in the city. He has asked for a report to be submitted to him by 2 December 2016. All 3 Municipal commissioners were also asked to hold meetings on air pollution every month and to work out a plan to regulate entry of construction material in their areas.
The meeting ended with the Lt Governor saying, “The action taken by all agencies has resulted in improved ambient air quality. They must keep up their efforts.”