Dr. P.K. Mishra Leads Task Force to Combat Delhi-NCR Air Pollution
New Delhi, September 23: Dr. P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, chaired a High-Level Task Force meeting to address the deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR as winter approaches. The meeting focused on tackling pollution from sources like paddy stubble burning, vehicular emissions, construction dust, solid waste, and diesel generators.
Key Points Discussed
Dr. Mishra emphasized the importance of strict and timely implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) by all relevant agencies. Rajesh Verma, Chairman of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), presented details on paddy straw generation, estimating 19.52 million tonnes in Punjab and 8.10 million tonnes in Haryana. Both states have committed to eliminating stubble burning this year.
Efforts in Punjab and Haryana
Punjab plans to manage 11.5 million tonnes of paddy straw through in-situ crop residue management and the rest via ex-situ methods. Haryana will manage 3.3 million tonnes in-situ and use ex-situ methods for the remainder. Over 1.50 lakh crop residue management (CRM) machines will be available in Punjab, supported by 24,736 Custom Hiring Centres (CHCs), while Haryana has 90,945 CRM machines supported by 6,794 CHCs. Additionally, 2 million tonnes of paddy straw will be co-fired in 11 thermal power plants across the NCR region.
Industrial and Dust Pollution
CAQM informed that 220 out of 240 industrial areas in the NCR region are now equipped with gas infrastructure. Dust pollution from construction and demolition activities is being remotely monitored through a web portal, with mandatory registration for projects over 500 square metres.
Additional Measures
Dr. Mishra instructed Chief Secretaries of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to rigorously monitor and implement action plans to eliminate stubble burning. He also stressed the need for full utilization of CRM machines, strengthening the supply chain for ex-situ management, and supporting small industries in briquetting and pelletizing operations. Strict enforcement actions against violators were highlighted.
He also requested Chief Secretaries of NCR region states to augment their e-Bus services under the PM eBus Sewa Scheme, which aims to increase the number of e-Buses by 10,000. The ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ programme was also emphasized for its sentimental value and role in greening the city.
Regarding firecracker pollution, state governments and law enforcement agencies were asked to strictly enforce bans and restrictions. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas was urged to expedite the collection of biomasses and accelerate the construction of compressed biogas (CBG) plants.
Doubts Revealed
Dr. P.K. Mishra -: Dr. P.K. Mishra is an important person who helps the Prime Minister of India. He is like a top assistant who helps make big decisions.
Principal Secretary -: A Principal Secretary is a very important job where the person helps the Prime Minister with important tasks and decisions.
Task Force -: A Task Force is a group of people who come together to solve a big problem. In this case, they are trying to fix the air pollution in Delhi-NCR.
Delhi-NCR -: Delhi-NCR stands for Delhi and the National Capital Region. It includes Delhi and nearby areas like Noida, Gurgaon, and Ghaziabad.
Air Pollution -: Air pollution is when the air becomes dirty and unhealthy to breathe because of smoke, dust, and other harmful things.
Paddy Stubble Burning -: Paddy stubble burning is when farmers burn the leftover parts of rice plants after harvesting. This creates a lot of smoke and makes the air dirty.
Vehicular Emissions -: Vehicular emissions are the smoke and gases that come out of vehicles like cars and buses. These emissions can make the air dirty.
Construction Dust -: Construction dust is the tiny particles that come from building and construction activities. This dust can make the air dirty and hard to breathe.
Punjab and Haryana -: Punjab and Haryana are two states in India. They are working hard to stop farmers from burning paddy stubble to help reduce air pollution.
Crop Residue Management -: Crop residue management means finding ways to use or get rid of leftover parts of plants without burning them. This helps keep the air clean.
Industrial Areas -: Industrial areas are places where there are many factories and industries. These areas can sometimes make the air dirty with their activities.
Gas Infrastructure -: Gas infrastructure means the systems and equipment needed to supply and use gas. This can help reduce pollution from factories.
e-Bus Services -: e-Bus services are buses that run on electricity instead of petrol or diesel. They are better for the environment because they don’t produce harmful emissions.
Firecracker Bans -: Firecracker bans mean that people are not allowed to use firecrackers. This helps reduce air pollution, especially during festivals.
Biomass Collection -: Biomass collection is gathering natural materials like leaves and crop residues. Instead of burning them, they can be used to make compost or energy.