Commission for air quality identifies immediate measures to bring down air pollution

The newly-constituted Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas on Monday stressed on the need for enforcing existing laws, directions and standard operating procedures to minimize air pollution on an emergency basis.

The panel also called for encouraging “coal-using industries in NCR to minimize the use of coal in the coming months”.

The Commission also felt that active public involvement is critical in the abatement of air pollution. It stressed on minimising use of personalized transport to the extent possible, restrict travel unless absolutely essential and encourage work from home.

It also called for strict enforcement of laws and rules regarding dust control measures including at construction sites, strict enforcement to prevent burning of municipal solid waste and biomass, intensifying water sprinkling particularly in dust-prone areas, using anti-smog guns at pollution hotspots specially at construction sites.

Extant rules, court and tribunal orders regarding stubble burning and use of fire crackers must be strictly implemented while cooperation from civil society and public-spirited citizens to report air pollution incidents on the Sameer App must be encouraged, the committee said.