No Construction Site Should Be Left Uncovered In Delhi: Environment Minister Imran Hussain

New Delhi: Keeping in mind the rising levels of air pollution in the national capital Delhi and surrounding areas, Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain on October 27 conducted a surprise inspection at three ready-mix concrete (RMC) plants in Burari. The minister along with Burari Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and Delhi police officers found large scale violations of dust control measures at RMC plants operational at Burari crossing in front of Majlis park metro station in the national capital. The plants were being operated by a private player.

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On inspection, the Environment Minister Imran Hussain found that not only are the three plants were operational, but the operators have not taken adequate measures to control the emanation of dust. It was observed that neither were there any arrangements to sprinkle water on material kept in the open ground, nor was there any provision to cover various units of RMC plants. On witnessing the violations, the Environment Minister directed DPCC to take immediate action against all the three plants for violation of environmental norms and contributing to the air pollution in Delhi-NCR.

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Earlier, on October 26, Mr Hussain along with his team paid a surprise visit to construction sites at Pragati Maidan where a new International Exhibition cum Conventional Centre, Executive Accommodation blocks and a tunnel are being constructed. On exploration, minister found similar violations with no arrangements to sprinkle water and construction material was left uncovered. The minister immediately asked DPCC to take action against the violators.

All construction sites were without mat fencing to trap the dust. All mat covering (Green sheets) arrangements were insufficient to mitigate the quantum of dust being generated from the construction sites, reads a statement from the ministry.

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The inspection was in line with Minister’s order to deal with pollution on war footing. On October 23, in a meeting with officers of different MCDs, PWD (Public Welfare Department) and other agencies, Mr Hussain asked them to be in a war mode to combat air pollution. Mr. Hussain also reviewed preparation and action plan on dust control and Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which is for effective check on air pollution in the city.

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Current State Of Pollution In Delhi-NCR

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), currently in Delhi, the Air Quality Index (AQI), stands at 366 that is under ‘very poor’ category with PM 2.5 and PM 10 being the major pollutant. In nearby areas like Gurugram, and Ghaziabad, AQI has already reached a ‘severe’ level that is between 400-500. The 24-hour safe standard for PM 2.5 is 25 μg/m3 and PM 10 is 50 μg/m3 24-hour mean.

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NDTV – Dettol Banega Swachh India campaign lends support to the Government of India’s Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). Helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan, the campaign aims to spread awareness about hygiene and sanitation, the importance of building toilets and making India open defecation free (ODF) by October 2019, a target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when he launched Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in 2014. Over the years, the campaign has widened its scope to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and menstrual hygiene. The campaign has also focused extensively on marine pollution, clean Ganga Project and rejuvenation of Yamuna, two of India’s major river bodies.