New Delhi, 22 December (H.S.): Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced the launch of a comprehensive campaign on Monday to immediately seal units violating GRAP-4 norms and spewing pollution, as all Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) commissioners initiated sealing operations alongside the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) targeting unauthorized industries.
Addressing a press conference at the Delhi Secretariat, Sirsa revealed that the multi-pronged strategy to curb capital's air pollution is yielding tangible results four days into GRAP-4's stringent measures, with improving air quality evident on the ground.
Over 2 lakh vehicles have undergone PUC checks under the 'No PUC, No Fuel' rule, issuing certificates to compliant ones while disqualifying 10,000; PUC centers are upgrading to advanced machines, introducing third-party verification, and facing on-site transport department oversight to eliminate malpractices.
Dust Mitigation, Landfills, Lakes Revival in Full SwingSirsa intensified the drive against polluting industries citywide, vowing instant sealing for violators and strict action against units missing OCM certification applications by December 31, with MCD-DPCC jointly identifying and shuttering illegal operations to enforce 100% compliance.
Dust control efforts encompass round-the-clock road cleaning and water sprinkling, alongside bio-mining of approximately 35,000 metric tons of waste daily at landfill sites to dismantle garbage mountains and reduce fugitive emissions.Progress on reviving encroached or dried reservoirs aims to restore at least 50% to their original form soon, enhancing dust suppression and urban ecology.
Sirsa warned of penalties for private firms flouting 50% work-from-home mandates under GRAP-4, addressing ANPR camera glitches via transport department intervention, and lambasted the previous Kejriwal regime for inherited negligence.He reserved sharp criticism for former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing the decade-long rulers of bequeathing pollution, mismanagement, and corruption before morphing into political tourists mere photo-op seekers devoid of moral authority on Delhi's environment.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
