New Delhi: With the winter season looming, a high-level task force meeting led by Dr. P. K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, convened at the Prime Minister’s Office to strategize on tackling the perennial air quality crisis in the Delhi-NCR region. The meeting assessed the effectiveness of ongoing actions against major pollution sources including stubble burning, vehicular emissions, and industrial pollutants.
During the session, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was highlighted as a crucial framework requiring stringent implementation by all concerned agencies to preempt the severe air pollution levels typically recorded during the colder months. Dr. Mishra emphasized the urgency of collaborative and proactive efforts from various stakeholders to mitigate these environmental challenges.
A key point of discussion was the management of agricultural stubble, a significant contributor to the region’s air pollution. Shri Rajesh Verma, Chairman of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), reported that Punjab and Haryana are set to handle substantial amounts of paddy straw, with Punjab tackling 11.5 million tonnes through a combination of in-situ and ex-situ methods, and Haryana managing 3.3 million tonnes similarly. This year, both states have pledged to completely eliminate stubble burning, a major air quality disruptor in the past.
The task force also reviewed plans to integrate 2 million tonnes of paddy straw into the fuel mix at 11 thermal power plants across the NCR to reduce reliance on more polluting energy sources. Regular monitoring and strict penalties for non-compliance were underscored as essential to ensure these plants meet their co-firing targets.
On the industrial front, progress was noted with most of the NCR’s industrial areas now connected to cleaner gas infrastructure, significantly reducing their emissions footprint. Additionally, the meeting addressed dust pollution from construction activities, stressing the importance of stringent enforcement of dust control measures, particularly for larger construction projects which are now mandatorily registered and monitored through a dedicated web portal.
Dr. Mishra directed the chief secretaries of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to ensure meticulous enforcement of the stubble management plans. He called for full utilization of the available crop residue management machines and robust support for industries involved in converting stubble to energy-efficient products.
Highlighting the transport sector’s role in urban pollution, Dr. Mishra urged NCR states to expand their fleets of electric buses under the PM eBus Sewa Scheme, aiming to introduce 10,000 e-buses to reduce vehicular emissions.
The Principal Secretary also pushed for vigorous enforcement of firecracker bans during the festive season and expedited development of compressed biogas (CBG) plants, aligning with national efforts to diversify energy sources and reduce biomass burning.
The comprehensive meeting was attended by high-ranking officials including the Cabinet Secretary, the Delhi Police Commissioner, and representatives from multiple ministries and state governments, reinforcing the collective resolve to improve air quality in one of the country’s most pollution-afflicted regions.
