To check the “very alarming” air quality in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), the Haryana government has decided not to register vehicles that are not Bharat Stage IV (BS-IV) compliant in 11 NCR districts, such as Faridabad, Gurgaon, Sonipat, Panipat, Palwal and Bhiwani among others. BS-IV refers to vehicle emission standards set by the government based on Europeans norms.

Giving this information here after a meeting with four States – Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan – Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters that this is part of a “three-month action plan” chalked out by the four States and conveyed to the Centre, which will be assessed in July to draw up a mid-term strategy to check pollution levels in Delhi.

Overloading of trucks While the Haryana government did not spell out any steps to check overloading of trucks that enter Delhi, it said the Manesar-Palwal bypass will be completed in nine months. “The tender for the Mundli-Manesar has already been floated,” Javadekar informed the media.

The Minister said Delhi will take “special action against overloading of trucks in Delhi. An automatic number plate recognition system will be placed on all borders to track non-destined vehicles entering Delhi.”

Also, an online monitoring system will be put in place by June to map all “visibly polluting vehicles” as well as keep tabs on agencies that grant ‘pollution under check’ certificates.

Besides this, Javadekar said three waste-to-energy plants will be set up to deal with construction and demolition waste, adding that “the Centre is framing rules for disposal of such waste”.

Helpline no. In addition, NTPC’s Badarpur thermal plant’s units IV and V will be retrofitted in three months, which will reduce two-thirds of pollution,” he said, adding that time-bounding phasing out of units I, II and III will also be done.

The Delhi government has also directed its officials to crackdown on open burning of garbage, plastics and leaves. It has made available a Delhi Pollution Control Committee WhatsApp helpline number – 9717593574 – on which complaints about the burning of garbage, waste material and leaves can be sent.

comment COMMENT NOW