NEW DELHI: Just a day after the Delhi government announced steps to keep air pollution in check, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) held a House meeting Tuesday to discuss ways to tackle the perennial issue. The meeting, which was adjourned midway amid a protest by Opposition members over Deputy Chief Minister Parvesh Verma slapping a youth during a recent road inspection drive, saw councillors propose a number of solutions.
BJP councillor Rajpal Singh called for a blanket ban on the use of wood at cremation centres for the next three to four months. He further suggested that only electricity- and CNG-based arrangements should be used for cremations during the pollution season.
His party colleague Mukesh Goyal noted that encroachment on roads also contributed to rising levels of air pollution. While addressing the House, he said, “Construction materials are often seen lying on roads. When vehicles pass by, the dust from the materials along with the vehicular dust gets mixed in the air and compounds air pollution. There is a need to take strict action.”
The ruling party’s Ritu Goyal also advocated for more stringent measures, especially for the next four months. She also demanded action against the suppliers of construction material who illegally place it on the streets.
“Immediate action should be taken against the suppliers who keep their items on the roads in a completely haphazard manner. There is no justification for encroaching on the roads like this all year round. If they do not have a designated shop or a legal place, they should not be allowed to operate from the roads. They should be completely banned and removed immediately,” she said.
The discussion was disrupted as Opposition leaders, led by AAP’s Ankush Narang, staged a protest over the incident involving Deputy CM Verma and a youth during an inspection drive in the city’s Tilak Nagar.
Street encroachment
The discussion saw BJP councillors call for a ban on encroachment on roads and the use of wood at cremations. The meeting was disrupted as Opposition leaders, led by AAP’s Ankush Narang, staged a protest over the incident involving Verma and a youth during an inspection drive in the city’s Tilak Nagar.