EPCA issues stern directions to curb pollution in Meerut, Bhiwadi

The Supreme Court-mandated Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority on Monday wrote to governments of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, expressing dissatisfaction over initiatives taken in Meerut and Bhiwadi, which are part of the national capital region, to control air pollution.

EPCA chairman Bhure Lal said that during his visits to Meerut in Uttar Pradesh on October 6 and Bhiwadi in Rajasthan on October 19, he found that officials had taken inadequate measures to curb road dust and chimney emissions, open storage of construction material, burning of garbage and handling construction and demolition waste.

He said the stretch of NH-9 between UP Gate and Dasna interchange road was under construction.

"Dust levels are high as the National Highways Authority of India has failed to take any any preventive measure," Bhure Lal said and observed that a paper mill, Ved Cellulose Ltd, on 16 milestone NH-9 is "causing huge air pollution... thick black smoke coming out from its chimney."