Schools shut, construction work stopped in smoke house Delhi

The Delhi govt has finally announced a slew of emergency measures to deal with the public health crisis

The govt has imposed a five-day ban on operation of diesel generator sets, except for ‘emergency’ services such as hospitals, mobile towers etc

Delhi govt may also bring back odd-even

Delhiites, wearing masks, joined a march to demand cleaner air on Sunday.Schools shut, construction work stopped in smoke house Delhi

NEW DELHI: As the capital continued to suffer one of its worst spells of air pollution in living memory and air quality further dipped to the season's lowest on Sunday, the Delhi government finally announced a slew of emergency measures to deal with the public health crisis.

All schools have been shut for three days and construction and demolition activities across the city banned for five days, starting Monday.

The government has imposed a five-day ban on operation of diesel generator sets, except for 'emergency' services such as hospitals, mobile towers etc.

The government was also looking at fanciful options like the possibility of creating artificial rain while preparing for another round of odd-even traffic restrictions.

"We are not pointing fingers at anyone but crop burning is a problem that we all have to tackle together. Delhi's problem is that base level pollution here was already quite high and the pollution from crop burning has made things worse. We have consulted experts and have drawn up a list of emergency measures. People should avoid going outdoors as much as possible for the time being," chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday. As dust is a major pollutant, the government has prohibited construction and demolition activity in the city for five days, including at Metro sites. So far, directions had been given on dust control measures but that having failed, it has been decided to suspend all activity.

PWD has been directed to water all its roads to try and settle the dust at these stretches, and start vacuum cleaning of all roads 100 feet and wider from November 10. PWD started hosing its roads from Sunday while teams have been deployed to remove construction and demolition waste from roadsides.To discourage the use of gensets, the govern ment has asked dis coms to provide power connections to anyone who asks for one so that residents are not dependent on captive power sources. "Power connections are not being given in some colonies as these are unauthorised. In the light of the present situation, power connections will be given to all. That does not, however, make them authorized," said the CM.

"We are also shutting down the Badarpur plant for 10 days. NHAI was taking fly ash from the plant and transporting it in open vehicles.We are prohibiting this for some days and have asked for watering at the storage area in the plant so that the ash does not fly about," he said.

The CM said the chief secretary and environment secretary have been asked to col laborate with the Centre to assess the possibility of artificial rain to settle the dust and pollution.

Meanwhile, the environment department has formed a special team to monitor burning of leaves and garbage. An app will be launched to allow residents to make specific complaints. "The sanitary inspector and some other officials are being made responsible for their areas. If open burning is found within their jurisdiction, their salaries will be deducted. We have issued directions to the corporations to control fires in landfill sites," the CM said. In a series of tweets, deputy CM Manish Sisodia accused schools of doing politics over the order to close for three days.

(TIMES OF INDIA)