High level meeting called for to tackle Delhi pollution
The nation’s capital Delhi was enveloped in a thick blanket of smog. Pollution units, garbage burners and construction works are being closely monitored by the Central Government in the national capital Delhi and other states of North India, in order to deal with pollution in the capital. 300 teams have been deployed.
Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary PK Mishra today reviewed the situation arising out of pollution in the National Capital Region and other parts of North India at a high-level meeting. Senior officials from Punjab, Haryana and Delhi participated in the meeting through video conferencing. It was decided in the meeting that the Cabinet Secretary would contact the officials of these states and monitor the situation every day. Instructions have been given to the chief secretaries of the three states to monitor the situation day and night in different districts.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, 300 teams have been deployed in the capital to combat pollution. Necessary machines have also been provided to the states. Special attention is being paid to the seven industrial corridors and major passenger corridors of the National Capital Region. The severe pollution situation in Delhi and the National Capital Region has shaken the Central Government. The government has instructed the Cabinet Secretary and the Chief Secretaries of the states of North India to monitor the pollution situation and measures to control it round the clock.
According to the Cabinet Secretary, the top bureaucrat of the country will monitor the day-to-day situation of air pollution in these states and national capital region, while the chief secretaries of those states also keep a watch round the clock on air pollution and measures to control it in their states. The choking air pollution has not only disturbed the people of Delhi and the National Capital Region, but on Sunday, its effect was clearly visible in many areas, roads and sky in North India. Air traffic was also disrupted in the capital due to the fog following sporadic rains which affected visibility significantly. Due to reduced visibility, at least 32 flights arriving at Indira Gandhi International Airport had to be diverted.
People were seen putting masks on the streets due to air pollution. Not only this, due to the haze, the drivers kept the lights on while driving. The Delhi government has announced a holiday in schools till November 5 in view of pollution. Now in Noida and Ghaziabad, all schools will remain closed till November 5. Even-odd scheme is being implemented in Delhi from tomorrow which will run till November 15. During this time, if the last digit of the vehicle number is even, it will be allowed to run on even date. For example, if the last digit of a vehicle’s number is zero, 2, 4, 6 and eight, then it will be allowed to run on the even date i.e. 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14. An odd number vehicle will be allowed to run on an odd date. This time CNG vehicles were also not exempted from this. Ghaziabad, the nearest district of Delhi, was the most polluted on Sunday. The air quality index (AQI) stood at 868, a very dangerous situation there. This emergency situation is 625 in Delhi and 737 in the same category in Gurgaon. There is some relief in Faridabad, yet it is in dangerous category at 501 AQI while in Noida it is at 667 AQI in case of emergency.
