The Supreme Court was informed that Delhi-NCR’s Air Quality Management Committee (CAQM) has established an enforcement task force to monitor compliance with instructions issued after air quality has deteriorated in the area. In an affidavit, the committee notified the Supreme Court that the 5-member working group was formed through the exercise of statutory powers.
The committee stated that it has formed 17 flying teams to punish violators and will increase the number to 40 in the next 24 hours.
The affidavit was submitted after the Supreme Court brought the center and the Delhi government to court on air quality issues in the capital region. The court gave the center and CAQM a 24-hour deadline to propose an emergency mechanism to control air pollution in Delhi-NCR. The court stated that if there is no such mechanism, it might set up a working group on its own.
“We look forward to taking serious, serious action, otherwise we will pass the order. We give you 24 hours to develop an action plan… If you can’t, we will have to pass some instructions tomorrow,” the bench told Attorney General Tushar Mehta. Last month, CAQM announced a series of measures to control Delhi-NCR air pollution, including a ban on construction and demolition activities. But now the air quality in the capital has been in a “very poor” state. According to data from the Air Quality and Weather Forecast and Research System (SAFAR), Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was 385 on Friday.
CAQM was established earlier this year to better coordinate, study, identify and solve the air quality problems in Delhi-NCR and adjacent areas. Any source of pollution in these areas may adversely affect the air quality in the capital area. The committee coordinates actions taken by relevant governments, and plans and implements plans to prevent and control NCR air pollution.
News Source : Hindustan Times
