उपराज्यपाल, दिल्ली

Hon’ble Lt. Governor, Delhi chairs emergency meeting in view of severe dust pollution in Delhi

• Stop all civil construction activities in city till 17th June, 2018 : LG
• MCDs and PWD to intensify mechanical road sweepings and sprinkling of non potable water on road sides.
• Massive plantation exercise from 15th July to 15 th September. People participation crucial for their ownership of this programme : LG

Hon’ble Lt. Governor, Delhi today chaired an emergency meeting in view of severe dust pollution in Delhi The meeting was attended by Hon'ble Minister (Environment & Forest), Sh. Imran Hussain, Chief Secretary, Delhi; Sh. BhureLal, Chairman, EPCA; Pr. Secretary(PWD),GNCTD; Commissioner, SDMC, Managing Director, DMRC; Secretary (Environment & Forest), GNCTD; Engineer-in-Chief, PWD; Member Secretary, DPCC; Conservator of Forest, GNCTD, Ms. Sunita Narain, Director General, Centre for Science and Envt. (CSE).

It was informed to Lt. Governor that air pollution levels have reached severe category in the national capital which is mainly due to wind blowing dust from western parts of the country. Sh. BhureLal further informed Lt. Governor that he has already sent an advisory to the Chief Secretary of Delhi stressing the need of water sprinkling water to control dust pollution and monitoring of construction sites.

After detailed deliberations on the current situation of air pollution in Delhi, followingdirections were issued:

1. Stopping Civil Engineering construction activities in Delhi from 15 th June 2018 to 17th June 2018. Municipal Corporations, DPCC and all construction agencies to enforce it. Agencies engaged in construction activities like DMRC, NBCC, NHAI, MCDs etc. shall strictly enforce dust control measures at their respective construction sites.
2. Municipal Corporations and PWD to intensify mechanical road sweepings, sprinkling of non-potable water at central verges and roadsides and stop brooming activity on main roads.
3. Municipal Corporations, DDA and SDMs to strictly enforce prohibition on open burning of garbage, plastics and leaves etc.
4. Municipal Corporations, DPCC and PWD to impose fine/penalties on all road construction agencies/contractors, where there are inadequate dust control measures.

Sh. BhureLal and Ms. SunitaNarainemphasised that there is a need of continuous monitoring by all agencies and vigilant action is needed in this emergency hour. A massive plantation exercise from 15thJuly to 15th September shall be undertaken across Delhi. To welcome participation of residents, information about procurement of saplings, identified areas for plantation activitiesetc. will be provided by Forest Department, GNCTD. Hon’ble LG stressed upon participation of people including RWAs, Eco-Clubs in schools etc. to give a sense of ownership to this programme.

All agencies concerned have been asked to submit their respective plans for plantation programme to the Forest Department. Finally, Hon’ble Lt. Governor directed for continuous monitoring by all agencies to ensure compliance with above measures.A review meeting would be convened tentatively on 25th June 2018 and thereafter, implementation would be regularly monitored.