New Delhi: Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, reviews the air quality situation in Delhi-NCR during a high-level meeting, urging all state and UT authorities to submit concrete action taken reports on their ongoing air pollution management efforts. This marks the fourth review meeting aimed at assessing preventive and control measures for air pollution across the National Capital Region.
Delhi’s Cabinet Minister for Environment, Forest and Wildlife, Sardar Manjinder Singh Sirsa, also participates in the meeting, alongside officials from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and representatives from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
During the review, Shri Yadav directs the authorities to prepare district-wise crop residue management plans and ensure year-round monitoring of stubble burning incidents. He emphasizes capacity building and training for farmers in operating Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines, ensuring their easy accessibility to reduce crop-burning emissions.
Highlighting the urgency of waste-related pollution, the Minister calls for zero tolerance toward open burning of municipal solid waste (MSW). He instructs NCR municipal authorities to bridge gaps in legacy waste management and accelerate waste liquidation within strict timelines. Sharing of best practices among NCR cities is encouraged to strengthen coordinated efforts.
To further curb industrial emissions, Shri Yadav urges a mission-mode installation of Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) and Air Pollution Control Devices (APCD) across all Red Category industries. He also reviews road redevelopment plans for urban and industrial areas, directing authorities to ensure high-quality and timely completion of projects to minimize road dust.
The Minister also emphasizes the need to close construction and demolition (C&D) waste processing gaps, suggesting greater involvement of both government and private sectors. He further encourages roadside greening and nursery development by municipal bodies in collaboration with forest departments to enhance the region’s green cover.
Addressing vehicular emissions, Shri Yadav asks the Delhi Traffic Police to formulate traffic management plans for major congestion hotspots and expedite the rollout of an Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) to reduce pollution caused by prolonged traffic jams.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to cleaner air, Shri Yadav emphasizes that improving Delhi-NCR’s air quality requires collaboration between authorities and citizens through collective and sustained efforts.
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