INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
A detailed action plan has been created, and regular reviews are ongoing
File photo: PTI3 min read Last Updated : Oct 14 2024 | 2:40 PM IST
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has held in-depth
meetings with state governments, including Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan, to address air quality issues.
A detailed action plan
has been created, and regular reviews are ongoing
According to Environment Ministry sources, the CAQM has recently authorised district authorities to take action against officials who fail
to enforce restrictions on stubble burning in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and the NCR areas of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.Click here to connect
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Additionally, a special drive against polluting and unfit vehicles has begun in Delhi and NCR, with continuous reviews
during the period from September 15 - October 9, from the states of Punjab and Haryana respectively, as per Ministry of Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and adjoining Areas has deputed 26 Central
teams to the hotspot districts in Punjab and Haryana to maintain close liaison with the district-level authorities.
A dedicated cell has
been set up in Chandigarh for continuous monitoring and coordinated efforts
District administrations and state governments have been directed to maintain constant vigilance to control stubble burning during the
harvesting seasonCAQM is the pollution watchdog for Delhi and adjoining areas.Stubble burning has become a pressing concern in Delhi as the
onset of winter traps pollutants, leading to hazardous air quality and thick smog.
The burning of crop residue in neighbouring states
significantly worsens pollution, posing severe health risks to residents.
"Taking into account the current situation and to ensure
effective implementation of the action plans at the field level, the CAQM in the exercise of the powers vested upon it under section 14 of
the CAQM Act 2021 has authorised the Deputy Commissioners/ District Collectors/ District Magistrates in the States of Punjab, Haryana, NCR
areas of Rajasthan and U.P
and in the NCT of Delhi to file a complaint/ prosecution before a jurisdictional judicial magistrate, in case of inaction in respect of
officials, including nodal officers and supervisory officers at various levels and Station House Officers, responsible for effective
enforcement towards ensuring elimination of paddy stubble burning in their respective jurisdiction," the ministry said in a recent
statement.
The CAQM has also directed the respective District administrations and the State Governments to shoulder higher responsibility
and maintain constant and strict vigil to control any further paddy stubble burning in the harvesting season.
"Further, the CAQM has
deputed 26 Central teams to the hotspot districts in Punjab and Haryana to maintain close liaison with the district-level authorities in
their endeavours to optimise the utilisation of all available resources/ means for various in situ/ex-situ management applications, besides
setting up a "Paddy Stubble Management Cell" at Chandigarh, for coordinated and continuous monitoring of the field level actions," the
ministry said.Last month, the Supreme Court rapped the CAQM for not taking concrete steps to curb air pollution in the national capital
region (NCR) and acting only as a "silent spectator".(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business
Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)First Published: Oct 14 2024 | 2:40 PMIST
