Delhi will celebrate the first festival season with legal fireworks as the Supreme Court allowed the sale and bursting of firecrackers in Delhi and NCR. Despite concerns raised from environmental experts, a bench led by CJI Bhushan R Gavai allowed fireworks for five days during Diwali. However, this will be allowed under a tightly regulated framework permitting only “green firecrackers” approved by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI).
Soon after, the central government has swung into action, addressing the growing threat of smog and toxic air in Delhi-NCR every winter. Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav chaired a high-level review meeting on air pollution. The meeting was attended by Delhi government minister Sardar Manjinder Singh Sirsa, officials from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), NITI Aayog, and several states in the NCR.
The meeting reviewed the decisions made at the previous meeting on September 16th. The minister stated clearly that pollution control in Delhi and the NCR will only be effective if all agencies at the central, state, and district levels work in unison. Yadav directed the timely installation of Online Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (OCEMS) in polluting industries so that industrial smoke and waste can be promptly monitored.
The meeting also discussed in detail the problem of stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. The Minister directed the CAQM to review the status of power plants and pellet plants for the storage and utilization of stubble pellets. Emphasis was also placed on enhancing coordination with custom hiring centers regarding the use and monitoring of machinery.
In addition, discussions were held on the better use of construction and demolition waste (C&D waste) in Delhi. Yadav said that the “Sameer App” will be made the only official air quality app in the country, so that the general public can get real-time pollution updates.
The Union Minister also urged the Delhi government to present a specific action plan for pothole repair and dust control. This meeting is being considered a “master strategy meeting” for the coming months against pollution, as winter approaches and the battle to contain the toxic air has begun.
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