EPCA issues directives to control pollution in Delhi-NCR

The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) on Tuesday issued certain measures to control the rising levels of pollution in Delhi-NCR.

The EPCA said it was monitoring the situation carefully in coordination with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) task force.

Expressing concern over the deterioration in weather conditions, the EPCA ordered to impose following emergency conditions:

1. Closure of all brick kiln, other than those that have been certified to have converted to zig zag. As of date, not a single brick kiln has been verified. All brick kilns in NCR will be shut.

2. Closure of all hot mix plants

3. Closure of all stone crushers

4. Immediately intensify public transport service, by ensuring there are more buses on road, which are run with reliable service

5. Immediately increase frequency of service, including deploying more coaches and introduction of lower fares during off peak hours during this severe period

6. All state pollution boards to immediately impose fines on all road constructing agencies where there are inadequate dust control measures. Taking the provision of C&D rules, which allow for penalty up to Rs. 5 lakh for construction dust mismanagement, the EPCA is directing for a fine of Rs. 50,000 for penalty per day per stretch for road dust.

7. Intensification of mechanised road sweeper and sprinkling of water

8. Continue ban on generator sets in Delhi, with exceptions only as defined by DPCC for essential services

9. Immediate enhancement of parking fee by four times and deposit of additional funds in dedicated parking fund with municipalities

10. Immediate stop all use of unapproved fuels in Delhi and all use of coal and firewood in hotels and eateries

11. Intensify traffic management in all hot spots and increase deployment of traffic police across the city

12. Intensify the enforcement of non-destined goods traffic into Delhi by physically checking all vehicles and turning them back and putting out public announcement of the numbers turned back

The EPCA further asked the Delhi Government to impose following conditions, if the weather and pollution conditions get aggravated further:

1. Stop entry of truck traffic into Delhi (except essential commodities) Delhi,

It also directed the Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan to impose following conditions in the NCR, if the weather and pollution conditions get aggravated further:

2. Stop construction activities

3. Introduce odd-even scheme for private vehicles based on license plate numbers with minimal exceptions

The national capital on Tuesday woke up to 'severe' air quality due to a thick blanket of smog.

The rapid fall in air quality and visibility began last evening as moisture combined with pollutants shrouded the city in a thick cover of haze.