On a day when pollution levels reached “severe” and a constant haze could be seen around the capital, the Supreme Court appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority has written to Delhi and NCR states to once again prepare for actions under the “emergency” category for the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
EPCA chairman Bhure Lal in his letter on Thursday has directed Delhi and the NCR states to intensify ground-level action to combat the high pollution levels, asking all authorities to be on alert to implement the emergency actions.
On Thursday at 2pm, the average PM 2.5 concentration levels reached 320 micrograms per cubic metre, while the PM 10 levels were recorded at 497 micrograms per cubic metre — just short of the “emergency” limit of 500 micrograms per cubic metre.
Under GRAP, pollution is considered as “emergency” or “severe plus” when both PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels stay above 300 and 500 micrograms per cubic metre respectively. The measures under this category are rolled out if these levels prevail for a period of 48 hours, which include banning the entry of trucks into Delhi, stopping construction activity and implementing the odd-even scheme as well. In addition, measures like shutting down of schools can also be implemented.
The apex court appointed body also rapped municipal corporations and DPCC officials on Thursday in a meeting over industrial units which were illegally operating in residential areas.
Lal said hundreds of such units were running in west Delhi’s Shadipur where rubber products are manufactured and said the body won’t hesitate in sealing such units.
The body has identified DTU as one of the most polluted areas in Delhi and asked authorities like DMRC, PWD and the traffic police what actions they had taken in Anand Vihar and DTU to reduce pollution there. The EPCA chief also directed DPCC to intensify patrolling at these locations and asked them to send their own teams at these locations instead of outsourced individuals.