In a bid to check air pollution in Delhi, the CPCB will report major construction activities without proper control measures and dumping of garbage among other polluting sources to its HQ on an hour-to-hour basis.
[REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE] (Photo Credits: PTI)
In order to step up efforts for ensuring better air quality, 50 teams of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) will be deployed to make extensive field visits from October 15 to February 28.
The teams will visit Delhi and NCR towns — Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut in Uttar Pradesh; Gurugram, Faridabad, Ballabgarh, Jhajjar, Panipat, Sonipat in Haryana; and Bhiwandi, Alwar, Bharatpur in Rajasthan. These teams will specifically focus on hotspot areas where the problem is aggravated.
On-spot reporting of major air polluting sources such as major construction activities without proper control measures, dumping of garbage and construction waste alongside the roads and on open plots, unpaved roads and open burning of garbage/industrial waste, etc. will be done using SAMEER App.
Feedback on polluting activities will be shared with agencies concerned through an automated system, for quick action. Details will also be shared with state governments. This will help in taking timely actions and monitoring at appropriate levels by the agencies concerned.
A Central Control Room at the CPCB headquarters has been made functional for keeping track of pollution levels on hour-to-hour basis and overall coordination with state agencies. In addition, district-wise nodal officers have been appointed for better management and coordination with teams.
Air quality in winters is a major environmental concern in Delhi and NCR. Various efforts have been made in the past five years for air quality management in the region. Although a gradual year-on-year improvement in air quality has been observed, a lot needs to be done.