Panel moots measures to check pollution levels in Delhi

The high-level committee constituted to look into the pollution levels in Delhi has come up with a slew of short term and long term measures to keep a check on the deteriorating levels.
The committee, headed by Chief Secretary, met twice after being set up earlier this month on the directions of Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung.
Secretary of Environment and Forests, Sanjiv Kumar said that in view of the alarming decline in groundwater table in Delhi, all the departments like PWD, DDA, DJB, Municipal Corporations have been asked to submit details of rainwater harvesting structures installed in areas of their jurisdiction.

A notification in this regard was issued on July 28, 2001, by the Ministry of Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation.
DJB will also put up the details of the building plans, schemes approved and sanctioned with minimum discharge of 10,000 liters and above per day on its website.
Besides, all horticulture departments have been asked to replace borewell water with treated waste water from sewage treatment plants (STPs) for horticulture proposes in parks and gardens and other green areas.
The agencies have been asked to supply treated waste water through supply lines or tankers, Kumar said.
Further, the Forest Department has taken up restoring of forest land through surveys and mapping of forests, he said.