To curb pollution in Delhi-NCR, new policy framed.

July 14, 2022

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has included clean power and transport among the fundamentals to deal with air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas.
Besides, greening and plantation on a large scale also feature in its new policy to abate the menace of air pollution in Delhi-NCR.
According to CAQM report, High-level protection will have to be accorded to the entire stretch of Aravalli range in Haryana and Delhi, and its different categories of forest areas, calling for dust and pollution mitigation through forest sinks to control pollution.
This green walling is needed against desertification and ingress of dust and cleansing of toxic gases,” stated the report aimed at overall amelioration of air quality through differentiated geographical approach and timely action.
The new plan also entails a ban on BS IV four-wheeler diesel vehicles, barring those engaged in essential services, in Delhi and the bordering districts of NCR if the air quality index (AQI) breaches the 450-mark.
An AQI of more than 450 is classified as “severe plus”.
The policy has received a mixed response from experts.
The policy focuses on industries, transport, construction and demolition (C&D), dust from roads and open areas, municipal solid waste burning and stubble-burning, among other things.
It also lays emphasis on thermal power plants, clean fuels and electric mobility, public transportation, road traffic management, diesel generators and bursting of firecrackers.
The policy, in its chapter on the management of paddy straw through different in-situ measures, stated: “By 2021, more than 13,100 Happy Seeders and 17,600 Super Seeders were available in Punjab, besides other categories of crop residue management (CRM) machinery, including combine harvesters.