CPCB to take criminal action against those violating pollution norms

Union Environment Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Saturday said that criminal prosecution will be initiated by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) against those agencies violating pollution norms.

The Minister further said that warnings would be issued on the Ministry's 'Sameer App' against those agencies concerned within 48 hours of a complaint being posted.

The decision to penalise polluters, Harsh Vardhan said, is being taken to send a message loud and clear that after the name has been uploaded the agency should take action and not wait for a warning.

As many as 41 teams were formed by the CPCB with whom the Minister held a review meeting on Saturday. The teams had gone to the fields in Gurugram, Faridabad, Noida, and Ghaziabad to monitor the situation.

Dr Harsh Vardhan said that the compliance score in all these places has not crossed level 10, which is "very disheartening".

From Monday, these 41 teams will be increased to 50 and they will go to the field on five days a week, the Minister said, adding that a detailed report will be shared to the public on all the information by the Ministry on Sameer App and these reports will be shared daily in the evening.

Harsh Vardhan said that he has asked the Delhi government to start a joint campaign to fight air pollution in the national capital. He also informed that on November 1 his Ministry would be holding a meeting with environment Ministers of nearby states.

Environment Secretary C K Mishra said that there has been a decline in burning cases in Punjab and Haryana.

In 2016, there were 22259 cases in Punjab while it was 16265 in 2017 and 7371 in 2018. Similarly, in Haryana, there were 4790 cases of burning in 2016 while it was 4733 in 2017 and 3022 in 2018.

Mishra also said that in the national capital, the average PM10 in September 2016 was 215 while in 2018 it was 116, thus highlighting a significant decline.