Delhi govt steps up coordination with neighbouring NCR districts to curb winter air pollution

The Delhi government has stepped up coordination with neighbouring NCR districts to curb winter air pollution, with Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Sunday reviewing measures to decongest border areas and intensify action against polluting vehicles.

According to an official statement, the environment minister held a high-level meeting with senior traffic police and police officials from — Delhi, Noida, Faridabad, Gurugram, Sonipat and Bahadurgarh — to review preparedness for implementing pollution-control measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and directions of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

Stressing that air pollution is a regional issue requiring coordinated action by NCR states, Sirsa said that effective border management, smoother traffic movement, cleaner public transport and coordinated action against non-compliant vehicles would remain key components of the city’s winter pollution-control strategy.

The meeting focused on synchronising traffic movement and deploying adequate personnel at congestion-prone locations, particularly near NCR borders, to reduce vehicular emissions from prolonged traffic jams.

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The participating agencies discussed strict enforcement of Pollution Under Control (PUC) norms, including action against visibly polluting vehicles.

Directions concerning the diversion of trucks not destined for Delhi through the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways will also be strictly enforced to reduce unnecessary heavy-vehicle movement through the city, the statement said.

The meeting also reviewed enforcement of restrictions on overage diesel and petrol vehicles and other non-compliant vehicles under applicable court orders and regulations.

Buses operating in Delhi-NCR from cities and towns outside Delhi will have to comply with prescribed fuel and emission standards. Buses other than electric, CNG or BS-VI-compliant diesel vehicles will not be permitted to operate in the region, in accordance with applicable directions, it said.

Along with awareness campaigns to promote public transport, display boards will also be installed at border checkpoints to inform motorists and interstate transport operators about the restrictions.

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Delhi Traffic Police informed the meeting that enforcement against traffic and pollution violations had been intensified, with more than 10,000 challans being issued daily on average as part of the ongoing drive, according to the statement.

The meeting also discussed deploying additional enforcement teams as further restrictions under the Winter Action Plan and GRAP come into force, besides ensuring real-time information sharing among agencies to facilitate prompt action against non-compliant vehicles at NCR borders.

Alongside vehicular pollution control, the Delhi government will intensify water sprinkling, mechanical road sweeping, dust suppression and cleanliness drives across the city, the statement said.