Air quality improving in Delhi : Minister

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Emphasising that air quality has been improving over the last two days, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr Harsh Vardhan on November 11, 2017, said that the people of Delhi need not panic as several steps are being taken by the Government to mitigate air pollution.

Speaking to mediapersons here, Dr Harsh Vardhan said that the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) must be earnestly and meticulously implemented by the State Governments concerned as well as municipal and civic organisations. He added that focussed attention at the highest level has been ensured through committees headed by the Union Minister of State, MoEF&CC and Secretary, MoEF&CC.   Dr Harsh Vardhan referred to the review meetings with State Governments concerned and agencies and said that crop residue and stubble burning have been under detailed discussions during all these meetings, according to a PIB release.

The Environment Minister pointed out that for the first time, this year, a focussed approach has been adopted to deal with emergency like situation through GRAP, which had been prepared last year.  He added that a Task Force has been set up to review the air quality in Delhi-NCR headed by Member Secretary, Central Pollution Control Board well in advance.  He also underlined augmenting of the number of monitoring stations in Delhi-NCR to enhance the quality of information system.
Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that as a part of advance planning and special intervention, 40 monitoring teams of CPCB have been deployed since September 1, 2017, to give feedback on the ground situation and air polluting activities in Delhi.  ‘A systemic response mechanism was put in place for the last one year and regular alerts were conveyed to all stakeholders,’ the Minister said.