The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has intensified its dust mitigation and enforcement measures across the city to combat air pollution, with deep cleaning of identified dust-prone roads underway in all 12 zones.The civic body has deployed 167 water sprinklers and 40 mobile anti-smog guns on roads, while 20 additional anti-smog guns have been installed at MCD facilities, including construction and demolition (C&D) waste processing plants, dumpsites and waste-to-energy facilities.
Another 20 anti-smog guns have been installed at MCD high-rise buildings, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday.The MCD has also designated sites in all 250 wards for the dumping of construction and demolition waste to prevent illegal disposal and improve monitoring.
Standard operating procedures (SOPs) have been issued for dust control at these locations.The prescribed measures include installing dust and wind barriers at least three metres higher than the maximum height of material heaps, covering or regularly wetting dumped materials and installing specialised fine-nozzle water sprinklers across the sites.
Vehicles transporting construction and demolition waste must also remain fully covered to prevent dust emissions.To strengthen surveillance, 360-degree pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras have been installed at all 125 sites, with live feeds to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) for round-the-clock monitoring, the statement said.The civic body has constituted joint enforcement teams to take action against biomass burning, dust pollution from construction activities, the use of unapproved fuels and illegal dumping of construction waste and garbage.
The teams will also inspect decentralised construction waste storage and dumping sites maintained by the MCD.In line with the directions of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), efforts are also underway to bring construction and demolition activities under the ambit of the Malba Portal to strengthen monitoring and compliance with dust-control norms.
The MCD has further deployed vehicles for DPCC enforcement teams to improve field inspections across all zones. An interim budgetary provision of Rs 5 lakh has been released for each zone to facilitate the deployment of vehicles. Directions have also been issued to use vehicles provided to special magistrates for litter-picker operations for enforcement wherever required.Zonal authorities have been directed to conduct regular inspections, identify pollution sources and take prompt corrective action.
The deployment of water sprinklers and anti-smog guns will be aligned with the different stages of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), issued by the CAQM from time to time.MCD Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar said tackling air pollution required sustained action, strict enforcement and close monitoring at every level.
The civic body is undertaking deep cleaning of roads, deploying dust-suppression equipment and strengthening enforcement against activities contributing to pollution, he said, adding that zonal officers must ensure regular field inspections and effective implementation of prescribed measures.
The MCD said its focus was on achieving tangible and lasting improvements in Delhi’s air quality through coordinated and timely action.
The End
