Diesel generators to be banned, parking fees to hike in Delhi to curb local emissions

New Delhi: Delhi Government has issued directions to hike parking fees and ban diesel generators as measures to bring respite to the national capital from the acute pollution crisis.

Environment Minister Gopal Rai said the decision has been taken following the Supreme Court’s monitored Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) guidelines after convening a review meeting with various departments of the Delhi government, Police and other concerned agencies.

Several key decisions were taken during the meeting about mitigating the ongoing pollution crisis in Delhi.

“In accordance to GRAP guidelines, diesel generators will be banned in the city and parking fees in malls and other designated parking areas will be hiked. Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) will submit an action plan about the implementation of the directions,” the minister said during a press briefing on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Transport department have been asked to increase the frequency of metro and bus services in the city, he added.

The plan is to encourage maximum use of public transport to control vehicular emissions.

Besides, 550 teams from various departments have been constituted to check incidents of open burning.

“These teams are divided into two shifts. They will roam around the city and check the incidents of open burning. They will also penalise the violators,” he added.

The minister also informed that the government will carry out the second phase of the anti-dust campaign starting November 12.

“It will be a one-month long drive just like the previous one. Teams will inspect under construction sites and will fine the violators,” he said.

The previous episode of the anti-dust campaign ran between October 8 to November 8. Around 450 under construction sites were fined after they were found flouting anti-pollution norms.

On the issue of stubble burning, the minister said that the Delhi government is waiting for the Centre’s response over its call to convene an emergency meeting with neighbouring states.

Meanwhile, he informed that the Agriculture Department has been directed to finish spraying of bio-decomposer solution over targeted 4000 acres of farmlands.

“We have covered 2300 acres of farms with the bio-decomposer so far,” he said.

Bio-decomposer turn crop residue or stubble into agricultural manure, thus, prevents the practice of stubble burning.

UNI