NEW DELHI: Berated from all quarters for poor management of air pollution levels, the Delhi government has, for the first time, issued standard operating procedures to all concerned departments, including the Delhi Development Authority, Public Works Department and civic bodies to take immediate measures to combat the menace.
The measures include sprinkling of water on roads by the DDA, PWD, MCDs and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NMDC) on roads and strict action against polluting vehicles by the transport department.
According to the order issued by the Delhi government's environment department last week, whenever the air quality index touches 'severe' levels, an alarm generated by the department will be sent to all concerned agencies via WhatsApp.
Municipal councils will then have to send tankers of water for sprinkling on roads. The Delhi Fire Services, PWD and the DDA will also chip in. At the same time, all departments will have to deploy their staff to take stock of garbage-burning across the city. All departments will have to send in their action-taken reports to the environment department.
The environment department has also asked the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), industry department, sub-divisional magistrates and assistant commissioners of police (ACPs) to ensure that the ban on diesel generator sets (with the exceptions as defined by the DPCC for essential services) are enforced in their respective areas.
Besides, the special commissioner (traffic) and commissioner (transport) have been asked to intensify the drive against polluting vehicles in the national capital. The Delhi government has been rapped several times by the NGT for delaying putting in place a plan to tackle pollution. It was given a 48-hour deadline last week to do so.
Pollution firefight
Among the measures that have to be taken are sprinkling water on roads, monitoring garbage burning and ensuring the ban on diesel generators is enforced