The AQI of Delhi is worsening with every single day, and people are sometimes finding it hard to breathe in the capital city. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has issued certain directives to tackle the problems that are arising due to the persistently rising AQI levels in the nation’s capital. The directives suggest a strict ban on the use of coal and firewood in the tandoors across all the eateries in the city.
What does the directive say?
The new directives will reinforce the earlier guidelines that were prescribed by the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). It suggests a ban on coal and firewood usage in the tandoors as a Stage-I measure for the reduction of emissions. The DPCC has referred to both the approved fuel list, which was issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in June 2022 and the modified GRAP order, which is dated 21st November 2023. This alarms the enforcement agencies of their duty to promise full cooperation during the ongoing anti-pollution efforts. The urban local bodies, including municipal commissioners and chief engineers, have been asked to conduct immediate inspections within their jurisdictions to ensure all eateries cease using coal and firewood.
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Rs 5000 fine for open burning of waste in Delhi
CM Rekha Gupta mentioned that the district administration and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will be levying fines up to Rs 5000 if they find out about the burning of waste in the open in Delhi. In a social media post on X, CM Rekha Gupta said, “We are continuously making efforts to control every small and large source of air pollution in Delhi. In line with this, strict instructions have been given to the Environment Department to ensure a complete ban on open burning.”
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Winter has arrived in Delhi, and the worsening air quality is making it more difficult for people. The children are afraid to come out to play because the parents are worried about the aftereffects of the air they breathe. The government has gone all out this time to protect the citizens as well as the city and aims to make the city ‘breathable again.’
