Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which is the country’s topmost pollution monitoring and regulatory body has sent notices to Delhi-NCR government agencies including DMRC, NHAI, MCD, NBCC and CPWD warning them of criminal action against them if they fail to comply with the air pollution measures to curb air pollution. CPCB, the pollution watchdog has labelled the actions by these agencies as ‘grossly inadequate’ resulting in ‘criminal negligence’.
CPCB has came up with a checklist that these agencies have to follow.The checklist includes submitting details of construction sites and preparing winter-specific action plans for them, along with penalising land-holding agencies if garbage is burnt on their land.
This move is a result of Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardha’s directions to CPCB to initiate criminal proceedings against the government agencies failing to take action against polluting sources. According to the reports, the construction and demolition sector continued to be the biggest source of pollution even at the time of the 10-day ban in November.
IMPORTANT ORDERS BY CPCB :
- Delhi Metro Rail Corporation(DMRC), National Highways Authority of India(NHAI), Central Public Works Department(CPWD), Delhi Development Authority(DDA) and NBCC asked to prepare a list of dust mitigation measures and put the list for public display and come up with a winter-specific plan.
- Municipal corporations warned of penalties in case garbage is found burning in the open. As per a senior CPCB official, defaulting individuals and agencies failing to comply with the directions shall be liable to criminal prosecution.