Delhi Air Pollution: Truck Ban, construction ban and other directions by Air Quality Management Commission to improve AQI

The Commission for for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas has issued a slew of directions to improve the air quality in Delhi and surrounding areas (Aditya Dubey v. Union of India)..The directions issued by the Commission were placed before the Supreme Court on affidavit in the case filed by a 17-year-old Delhi student Aditya Dubey concerning rising levels of air pollution in the Capital..The Centre in its affidavit stated that pursuant to the top court's order of November 15, an emergent meeting of Commission was convened on November 16.It was attended by Secretary – Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change, Secretary – Ministry of Power, Secretary - Department of Personal & Training, Chief Secretary of Delhi, Additional Chief Secretary of Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, Additional Secretary Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and Principal Secretary, Department of Transport, Department of Town Planning, State of Haryana. At the meeting, the Commission issued certain mandatory directions to the four States - Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh The directions are as follows:.Industrial PollutionDelhi and other NCR States were directed to ensure that all industries having gas connectivity run only on gas as fuel failing which the industry has to be close.Industries using unapproved fuels should be closed with immediate effect and industries having gas connectivity should be immediately shifted to gas. State governments should also furnish industry-wise data of such shifting..Thermal Power PlantsOf the 11 thermal power plants located within 300 km radius of Delhi, only five should be allowed to schedule their operations while the rest have to remain inoperative at least till November 30, 2021.The five plants which have been allowed operate are NTPC, Jhajjar; Mahatma Gandhi TPS, CLP Jhajjar; Panipat TPS, HPGLC; Nabha Power Ltd. TPS Rajpura and Talwandi Sabo TPS, Mansa..Vehicular Pollution State were directed to ban entry of all trucks into Delhi till November 21 except those carrying essential commodities.Authorities were ordered to ensure that diesel vehicles which are more than 10 years old and petrol vehicles which are more than 15 years old should not be allowed to ply on the road.Delhi government was directed to put on road adequate number of CNG buses at the earliest..Dust Control MeasuresAll construction activity except four exempted categories have to be stopped till November 21.The exempted categories are:(i) Railway services/ railway stations;(ii) Metro Rail services/ stations;(iii) Airports and Inter State bus terminals;(iv) National security/ defence related activities/ projects of national importance. The Commission also directed use of smog towers and also ordered use of sprinklers and dust suppressants in vulnerable hotspots at least three times a day. .DG setsThe Commission directed the NCR states to strictly ban use of Diesel Generator (DG) sets except for emergency services..Encouraging work from homeThe NCR States should allow work from home for at least 50 percent of its employees till November 21. It should also encourage the same for people working in private establishments. .The Centre in its affidavit also said that instead of Central government employees being asked to work from home, it has issued a direction to car pool, so that the number of Central government vehicles on road are reduced. .Schools, colleges to remain closedThe Commission also directed all NCR States to close all schools, colleges and educational institutions and to hold classes via online mode until further orders..Interestingly, the Centre's affidavit does not make any mention of directions issued with respect to crop stubble burning by farmers which has allegedly been one of the contributing factors to the air pollution in north indian plains..A Bench of Chief Justice of India NV Ramana and Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant will hear the case today.

Delhi Air Pollution: Truck Ban, construction ban and other directions by Air Quality Management Commission to improve AQI

Debayan Roy

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