New Delhi, Oct 23 Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa directed officials on Friday to identify pollution hotspots in the capital’s southwest and west using air quality data and ground inspections, urging them to ensure time-bound action against road dust, traffic congestion, encroachments and open waste burning.
Reviewing pollution control measures at the District Magistrate’s office, Sirsa asked the concerned departments to prepare hotspot-specific action plans, clearly identifying the agencies responsible and deadlines for corrective measures.
MLAs, district magistrates, police officials and senior officers from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Public Works Department, Metro, Railways, Traffic Police and other departments attended the meeting.
The minister directed officials to use data from Air Quality Index (AQI) monitoring stations to identify local pollution sources, with particular focus on road dust, heavy vehicular movement, construction and demolition activities, unauthorised parking and waste burning.
He also called for focused monitoring of PM10 and PM2.5 levels at vulnerable locations and prompt corrective action wherever elevated particulate matter levels are recorded.
“Our approach is clear: Identify the source of pollution and act at the spot. Every department must have a clear action plan, a deadline and accountability for results,” Sirsa said. He directed officials to ensure strict compliance with Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), including dust-control measures at construction and demolition sites and enforcement against the open burning of garbage, biomass, plastic and other waste. On traffic management, Sirsa stressed better coordination between the Traffic Police and other agencies to regulate heavy vehicle movement, particularly during peak hours, and prevent congestion caused by unauthorised parking of heavy vehicles.
He also directed agencies to remove illegal encroachments, repair potholes, treat exposed soil along roadsides and ensure regular water sprinkling at dust-prone locations.
Future road projects should incorporate end-to-end carpeting or paving of roads and roadside areas wherever technically feasible, and in accordance with applicable specifications, he said.
The minister called for improved waste collection, segregation, transportation and scientific disposal to prevent garbage accumulation and open burning.
Directing departments to submit regular Action Taken Reports, Sirsa said the reports must detail measures undertaken, pending work and deadlines for completion.
He said the progress will be reviewed in subsequent meetings to ensure accountability.
Appealing to residents to support the government’s pollution control efforts, Sirsa urged them not to burn garbage or dump waste on roads, ensure their vehicles have valid Pollution Under Control certificates and use public transport or carpool wherever possible.
“Keeping Delhi’s air clean is a shared responsibility. Government action must be matched by responsible public behaviour, from avoiding waste burning to maintaining vehicles and reducing unnecessary private vehicle use,” he said.
The review meetings were part of the Delhi government’s district-level exercise to identify local pollution sources, strengthen inter-departmental coordination, and ensure effective enforcement of pollution control measures, according to an official statement.
(PTI News)
