Strict measures to curb air pollution

Taking tough decision to fight air pollution, the Delhi government has decided to accept public complaints against polluting construction sites on WhatsApp and the Swacch Delhi mobile applications.

The government also plans to install smoke traps above all platforms at 75 cremation grounds to reduce air pollution levels in the national capital.

After chairing a high-level meeting with senior Delhi government officials on Tuesday, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced that the urban department’s Swachh Delhi mobile application will now be updated to enable the public to post complaints of dust emitted from construction sites.

Similar complaints can now be sent to the WhatsApp helpline number —  9717593574 — of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). The government also decided to redesign the helpline by analysing last 10 days data with respect to action taken and feedback from implementing agencies.

He also directed concerned departments — including the DPCC, Public Works Department, Transport among others — to monitor construction sites having a built-up area of more than 20,000 sqm and crack down on firms storing construction material on roads and violating pollution norms.

Chief Secretary K K Sharma was instructed to meet municipal and DPCC officials regarding their collaborative green crematorium project. Under this project, emission control devices such as chimneys and smoke taps are to be installed above all crematorium platforms and subsequently, the air quality level before and after the pilot project is to be studied.

The Public Works Department was instructed to explore the possibility to install air purifiers at key traffic intersections in the national capital and also re-introduce vacuum cleaning of roads — which was stopped during the Monsoon season.

The government also ordered the horticulture department to take strict action against burning of leaves and garbage on roads during winters.

The city’s Health Minister Satyendar Jain and Environment Minister Imran Hussain also attended the meeting. Sisodia announced that the government would seek weekly updates on the measures decided in the meeting.

The Particulare Matter (PM) 10 level at Anand Vihar monitoring station was recorded at 1331 ug/m3 on Tuesday, which is less than the 1441 ug/m3 recorded on the day after Diwali but still nearly five times higher than the prescribed limit of 100 ug/m3.

The PM 2.5 level at the city’s densely populated RK Puram and Punjabi Bagh areas touched 259 ug/m3 and 248 ug/m3 respectively on Tuesday, which is less than half of the data recorded on Monday but significantly higher than the advised 60 ug/m3.