Like every year during winters, Delhi and its adjoining areas are filled with smog which not only cause difficult visibility but also it is very much harmful for people who will breath in such polluted air. And specifically in these times of corona much more care is to be taken regarding the air pollution. So in order to take care of this the Pollution Control Authority, is now empowered by the Supreme Court, to take stringent steps in Delhi for dealing with this problem from October 15. To tackle with air pollution under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), Pollution Control Authority with carry out strict plan in Delhi and its adjoining areas.
The Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority directed the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, to prohibit the use of diesel generators in any work, except for the cases of essential and emergency services in the border of the national capital, Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Faridabad and Gurugram.
The authority will also issue the list of “exceptions and emergency services”, where the use of diesel generators can be allowed. It has written in a letter to the states, “We should try to avoid the need to take emergency steps to control air pollution … The economy is already in a bad state after lockdown.” Thus, our joint efforts should be that the situation shall not worsen.”
Steps such as manufacturing activities, industries using non-PNG fuels and shutting down of thermal power plants shall be taken when the level of air pollution might rise in the area.
The head of the authority, Bhurelal has said in a letter to the states, “Large manufacturing projects like highways and metros will give an affidavit to the State Pollution Control Board / Pollution Control Committees ensuring strict adherence to the norms set for dust management.”
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The authority also stated that the manufacturing works cannot be completely prohibited as we also need to carry on our economic activities specially in such a condition of our country’s economy, as it can further worsen our economic situation. The authority said in a letter, “The condition of the economy is not as good after the lockdown, in which case all of us should try not to take emergency steps to control air pollution.” In such a situation, our joint efforts should be to ensure that the situation does not worsen.”