12-point draft plan formulated to combat air pollution

The high-level task force headed by Nripendra Misra, principal secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has formulated the 12 point draft ‘Air Action Plan-Abatement of Air Pollution in the Delhi NCR’ and has asked for feedbacks in fifteen days to make it more "effective and practical".

Synchronized and harmonious action to combat stubble burning, an app to report contravention and commissioning studies and launch of a hotline are some of the suggested measures in the 12-point draft plan formulated by Nripendra Misra led task force to combat air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region.

As per the plan, the task force will monitor some of the key actions that are being taken. It is accepted that the agencies in charge of a range of determinants of air quality will take a series of other steps based on their assessment of need.

The secretary, MoEF will be responsible for overall coordination of the action agenda.

Key points of plan

The Plan asks for formulating a journey planner app which integrates the Metro, the DTC services and integrated ticketing across the DTC, the DIMTS and cluster and metro within 6-months.

It suggested that coordinated action to combat stubble burning in Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh and also supervise enforcement measures to decrease stubble burning.

For this, It calls for a specific plan for correctly disposing of crop stubble and make sure that independent data on stubble burning is accessible in real time in partnership with the department of S&T (science and technology) among others.

To collaborate with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), an adequate network of air quality monitoring stations required.

To set up an anti-pollution helpline in the NCR districts for registering complaints.

A pollution app should be built so that the citizens can inform the official of any violation and for quick remedial action.

Strict action should for brick kilns operating in the NCR, especially in areas like Jhajjar (Haryana), Bagpat (UP) without environmental clearance. All brick kilns to be migrated to zig-zag technology.

It asked for mechanised road sweeping to be increased from 15 percent to 40 percent in Delhi in the next four months.

To set up an independent verification mechanism to check whether 100 percent solid waste is actually being collected with a specific focus on poor communities such as slums and JJ clusters.

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