NEW DELHI: As air pollution in the city rose to unprecedented levels, Delhi government today announced a raft of measures including vacuum cleaning and sprinkling of water on arterial roads, cutting dust from construction sites and prohibiting burning of leaves.
After a lengthy meeting with concerned departments, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia also said government has drawn up a roadmap to tackle air pollution under which emission control device to cut toxic pollutants at the landfill sites as well as in crematoriums will also be installed.
Sisodia said the PWD has been directed to re-introduce within two weeks vacuum cleaning and sprinkling of water on 1,250 km of roads under the agency. The vacuum cleaning of roads was stopped following the monsoon.
"Jet pressure pump technique will be used for water sprinkling on footpath edges, road bumps and central verges. By doing this, we can control dust particles. In several countries, such technology is being used to curb dust pollution," he said.
Sisodia said PWD is exploring installation of mist fountain at five important traffic intersections including Mukarba Chowk and Anand Vihar, the most polluted area of the city. The PWD is also examining installation of air purifier at traffic intersections.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has been told to strictly carry out regular inspection at construction sites having area more than 20,000 sqr meters. The agency has been also directed to submit a detailed note about dust pollution in construction sites to him.
"90 per cent of dust pollution comes from the construction sites which need to be regulated. There are 61 major construction sites in Delhi, but there are several small such sites and most of which violate laid down rules.
"Government has decided to aware people about dust pollution. We will appeal to them to inform it about violations of rules. Swachh Delhi App developed by the Urban Development Department to be also linked with dust complaints from construction sites on which people can complain," he said.
The steps by the Delhi Government were announced after Diwali fireworks pushed pollution in the city to a dangerous level, the worst in three years, as it turned the air highly toxic due to a deadly cocktail of harmful respirable pollutants and gases.
The Deputy Chief Minister said sub-divisional magistrates and assistant engineers of PWD have been asked to take action and issue challans against those storing construction materials on roads.
Swachh Delhi App developed by the Urban Development Department will also be linked with dust complaints from construction sites, he said adding public awareness will be created so that citizens can send complaints using the App.
Another step announced by him was installation of emission control device like chimney, wet scrubber, etc at cremation grounds in collaboration with all three MCDs.
"There are 75 cremation grounds which also contribute in increasing pollution level. With the help of MCDs, we will install smoke tappers to curb air pollution," Sisodia said.
Apart from this, the AAP government has also decided to begin pilot for controlled burning using piping and venting at all landfill sites to reduce uncontrolled toxic emissions at source.
The Deputy CM directed that immediate steps be taken to control/trap methane to reduce its emissions in open air. DPCC and DJB will submit a report to the Deputy CM after exploring the use of sludge on the landfill sites.
A senior government officials said that matter will be taken up with GAIL with respect to controlled burning methane gas and covering of landfill sites with inert material, alum sludge from water treatment plant of DJB.
The Kejriwal government will also request neighbouring states to help reduce autorickshaw crowding at entry points of Delhi which cause air pollution and traffic congestion.
The Deputy Chief Minister has decided to take a weekly review of the steps decided in the meeting. Sisodia will also meet officials of concerned departments on a regular basis.