Delhi government gasps to clean toxic air

Twenty months after coming to power in the national capital, the Aam Aadmi Party government is still struggling to curb the city’s rising air pollution levels. Following a high-level meeting at the Delhi Secretariat on Tuesday, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia announced resuming vacuum cleaning and water sprinkling on roads, starting within two weeks’ time.

Also in pipeline is installation of mist fountains to bring down PM 2.5 (particulate matter with diameter below 2.5 microns) and PM 10 levels (particulate matter with diameter below 2.5 microns) at five major traffic intersections, including Mukarba Chowk and Anand Vihar, according to Mr Sisodia.

Mr Sisodia said the PWD has been directed to re-introduce vacuum cleaning and sprinkling of water on 1,250 km of roads under the agency. The vacuum cleaning of roads was stopped following the monsoon.

“Jet pressure pump technique will be used for water sprinkling on footpath edges, road bumps and central verges. By doing this, we can control dust particles. In several countries, such technology is being used to curb dust pollution,” he said.

He said PWD is also examining installation of air purifier at these pollution hotspots. But, according to him, no decision has been taken on reintroduction of the ambitious odd-even rationing of road space, banning private cars on alternate days. The car curb initiatives such as “odd-even” and monthly “car-free” days were stalled after criticism mounted on its efficacy in containing the pollution.

After a lengthy meeting on Tuesday, Mr Sisodia said the government has drawn up a roadmap to tackle air pollution under which emission control devices will also be installed to cut toxic pollutants at the landfill sites as well as in crematoriums. The high-level meet even discussed ways to control dust from construction sites and prohibiting burning of leaves.

Mr Sisodia said the DPCC will carry out regular inspection at construction sites having area more than 20,000 square metres and submit a detailed note to him on a regular basis.

“Ninety per cent of dust pollution comes from the construction sites which need to be regulated. There are 61 major construction sites in the city, but there are several small such sites and most of which violate laid down rules.

“The government has decided to aware people about dust pollution. We will appeal to them to inform about violations of rules. Swachh Delhi App developed by the Urban Development Department will be linked with dust complaints from construction sites on which people can complain,” the deputy chief minister said.

According to the government, sub-divisional magistrates and assistant engineers of PWD have been asked to take action and issue challans against those storing construction materials on roads.

The deputy chief minister said he will take weekly review of the steps decided in the meet. Earlier on October 22, the government had formed a three-member ministerial committee which is slated to submit a report on anti-pollution and solid waste management measures by November 10. The committee was formed a day after the Supreme Court pulled the government for massive garbage pile-up at the Delhi landfills.