Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain writes to Harsh Vardhan over crop residue burning issue

Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain has written a letter to Union Minister of Environment Harsh Vardhan requesting to direct neighbouring state such as Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to take preventive and control measures for air pollution resulting from the crop residue burning.

"An urgent high-level meeting of chief ministers of various states including NCR may be convened to review the effort made to control air pollution," Hussain wrote in his letter. The air quality in Delhi breached 'poor' levels on Friday.

The department of environment has deployed 83 environment marshals in September for reporting the incidents of violation of environmental laws. These marshals will be deployed in New Delhi Municipal Councils in 272 municipal wards of the capital.

Hussain had earlier directed various agencies to ensure that the norms for dust control are maintained at construction sites. The decision was taken in a meeting chaired by Hussain to review the steps being taken for prevention, control and mitigation of air pollution in the city and the National Capital Region (NCR).

He had said that the development agencies should ensure that all construction sites should adhere to the Construction & Demolition Waste Rules, 2016 to avoid any dust emission from construction activities.

"No construction material should be kept in the open and regular sprinkling of water at all construction sites must be done. All high-rise building should have the arrangement of water sprinkling for dust suppression. Strict action against the violators of norms should immediately be initiated by the respective authority," he said.

The minister had also directed the transport authorities/traffic police to deploy more staff so that strict actions are taken on the overloaded vehicles and vehicles carrying uncovered construction material. He stressed upon the need to stop the entry of non-destined vehicles in Delhi as the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways have become operational, the statement said.

The PWD was directed to increase deployment of mechanical sweeping machines on roads wider than 60 ft with an arrangement for water sprinkling. The minister also reviewed the action being taken by various departments and agencies on the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) as notified upon the directions of the Supreme Court to combat air pollution in Delhi and NCR.