Centre to agencies: Time-bound steps to cut pollution
The set of 42 specific directions aim to control pollution across the categories of vehicular emissions, road dust, biomass burning and industrial pollution among others
 "Centre to agencies: Time-bound steps to cut pollution")
State pollution control boards and pollution control committees of Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh have been directed to take time-bound steps under Section 18 of Air Act, 1981, to curb the dangerous levels of air pollution in the area.
The set of 42 specific directions aim to control pollution across the categories of vehicular emissions, road dust, biomass burning and industrial pollution, among others.
Addressing a press briefing, environment minister Prakash Javadekar said urgent steps would be taken to control vehicular emission. These include ensuring strict action against visibly polluting vehicles, installation weighing bridges at all major roads entering Delhi border to prevent overloading, and steps to prevent parking of vehicles in non-designated zones.
Other measures such as installation of vapour-recovery system in fueling stations and synchronisation of traffic movements or intelligent traffic systems have also been prescribed, which have to be implemented within 30 days.
Long-term measures such as road widening, promotion of battery-operated vehicles, and installation of remote sensor-based pollution under control system have been given 90 days to be implemented.
To deal with road dust, mechanised sweeping of roads will be introduced along with the construction of green buffers along major traffic corridors.
While reiterating that open burning of farm waste will be dealt with sternly, the ministry also ordered proper collection of such waste and promotion of better composting practices. It ordered coal to be prohibited for cooking in hotels and restaurants and the same for kerosene in households within the next 60 days.
The agencies will have to communicate the status of the implementation before January 31, 2016 supplemented with ambient air quality monitoring data being maintained by them.
The minister added that to control air pollution from construction and demolition activities, municipal agencies have been asked to undertake water sprinkling and putting up curtains and barriers.
Directions have also been issued to ensure strict action against unauthorised brick kilns to control air pollution caused by industries. The minister also said construction material can only be carried in covered vehicles.
| Some measures by Environment Minnistry to control Pollution in Delhi and NCR | ||
| Sl. No. | Action Points | Time Frame for implementation |
| ii) | Ensure Strict action against visibly polluting vehicles; | Immediate |
| iii) | Install weigh in motion bridges at Delhi borders to prevent overloading; | Immediate |
| iv) | Take steps to prevent parking of vehicles in the non-designated areas; | Immediate |
| vii) | Take steps for retrofitting of diesel vehicles with Particulate Filters; | Immediate |
| ix) | Synchronize traffic movements / Introduce intelligent traffic systems for lane-driving; | 30 days |
| x) | Install vapor recovery system in fueling stations | 30 days |
| xiv) | Prepare action plan for public transport on CNG mode; | 90 days |
| xvi) | Promote battery operated vehicles; | 90 days |
| Control of Road Dust/Re-suspension of dust and other fugitive emission | ||
| Sl. No. | Action Points | Time Frame for implementation |
| i) | Formulate action plan for creation of green buffers along the traffic corridors; | Immediate |
| ii) | Introduce wet/ mechanized vacuum sweeping of roads; | 30 days |
| v) | Undertake greening of open areas, gardens, community places, schools and housing societies. | 90 days |
| vi) | Take steps for blacktopping / pavement of road shoulders to avoid road dust; | 180 days |
| Control of Air Pollution from Bio-Mass Burning | ||
| Sl. No. | Action Points | Time Frame for implementation |
| ii) | Ensure proper collection of horticulture waste (bio-mass) and composting–cum-gardening approach; | Immediate |
| iii) | Ensure strict enforcement of ban on burning of agriculture waste and crop residues | Immediate |
| iv) | Prohibit use of coal in hotels and restaurants and eliminate use of kerosene for cooking in Delhi; | 60 days |
| Control of Industrial Air Pollution | ||
| Sl. No. | Action Points | Time Frame for implementation |
| i) | Ensure strict action against unauthorized brick kilns | 30 days |
| ii) | Ensure strict action against industrial units not complying with standards ; | 60 days |
| iv) | Launch action plan for switching over to natural gas by industries, wherever feasible. | 120 days |
| Control of Air Pollution from Construction and Demolition Activities | ||
| Sl. No. | Action Points | Time Frame for implementation |
| i) | Control dust pollution at construction sites through appropriate cover | Immediate |
| ii) | Undertake control measures for fugitive emissions from material handling, conveying and screening operations through water sprinkling, curtains, barriers and dust suppression units; | 30 days |
| iii) | Ensure carriage of construction material in closed/covered vessels; | 30 days |
| Other Steps to control Air Pollution | ||
| Sl. No. | Action Points | Time Frame for implementation |
| i) | Set-up helpline in States/UT for taking action against reported non-compliance; | Immediate |
| iii) | Establish Standard Operating Procedure to provide quick and effective response to complaints | 30 days |
| iv) | Take steps for maximizing coverage of LPG / PNG for domestic cooking purposes with intention of achieving 100%; | 90 days |
| vii) | Undertake Satellite based monitoring for tracking and enforcing agriculture waste burning; | 90 days |
| viii) | Take steps for setting up of bio-mass based power generation units to avoid bio-mass burning. | One year |