PMO for permanent long-term solution to curb air pollution, holds review meeting with states for 2nd day
In the mid of toxic air being inhaled by million of Delhites, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister PK Mishra pointed out that after taking short-term measures, a system will be put in place for a permanent long-term solution.
Top officials of Delhi, Punjab, and Haryana on Monday outlined before the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) steps taken by their states in the past 24 hours to check air pollution, including imposing fines on those burning stubble and sprinkling of water in identified "hotspots".
Holding a review meeting for the second consecutive day on tackling pollution in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, pointed out that after taking short-term measures, a system will be put in place for a permanent long-term solution, a statement issued by the PMO said.
India Gate in Delhi (Representational Image)
He also asked Haryana and Punjab to provide details of additional measures taken by them to check fresh cases of fire and stubble burning during the last 24 hours.
Delhi-NCR has been engulfed in a thick blanket of smog since Diwali on October 27.
Punjab Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh said he is personally monitoring the situation with deputy commissioners of various districts where hotspots have been identified.
He said FIRs are also being registered for violation of The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the state government is taking strict action by enforcing the necessary fines for incidents of violation of the said Act, the statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office said.
Haryana Chief Secretary Kesni Anand Arora said that Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has directed all concerned to reduce the cases of stubble burning in the state at the earliest. She said the teams are in the field round-the-clock to control cases of air pollution.
Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Dev explained that water sprinkling has been intensified, and identified hotspots and corridors are being focussed upon to improve the situation. Open dumping of garbage in the city has been stopped and maximum fine is being imposed and collected from violators of these norms.
Masks have become a common sight in Delhi
The India Meteorological Department indicated that weather conditions are likely to remain favourable over the next few days.
Mishra emphasised the importance of pre-emptive action to prevent pollution and stressed on the need to establish a mechanism for immediate action.
The Principal Advisor to the Prime Minister PK Sinha, Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba Environment Secretary, Secretary, Agriculture, Chairman, Central Pollution Control Board, Director General of India Meteorological Department were among those who attended the meeting.
Pollution levels in the national capital dropped marginally on Monday morning due to a slight increase in wind speed, but the air quality remained in the 'severe' category.
At 4.38 am, Delhi's air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 438. The AQI at Alipur, Narela and Bawana were registered at 493, 486 and 472 respectively.
On Sunday, the national capital's average AQI stood at 494, the highest since November 6, 2016 when it was 497. An AQI between 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 'severe'. Above 500 falls in the 'severe plus' category.
