Summary:
EPCA said no knee-jerk decisions would be taken.“We have been considering CPCB’s proposal to shut down industries in the NCR’s pollution hotspots, but demarcating the areas is a problem. Each agency and team has been given specific instructions to focus on any polluting activity in these spots,” said a CPCB official. At Anand Vihar, how can it be determined which industry falls inside or outside the “zone”? This may cause confusion to the agencies on the ground,” said EPCA member Sunita Narain.Narain said that EPCA is currently monitoring the situation and can intensify action but not shut down these zones in terms of industrial and C&D activity.“In a recent meeting, we issued warnings to industries to switch to gas and cleaner fuels. NEW DELHI: Though the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) task force has suggested shutting down industries and construction and demolition (C&D) activities in pollution hotspots whenever air quality is in the severe range, the move is unlikely to happen anytime soon in the NCR The Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) has said that while special drives can be carried out in these hotspots, activities wouldn’t be shut down as it is difficult to demarcate boundaries, a task that may require special planning.Delhi’s air quality touched “severe” on Monday and remained so for 48 hours before improving to “very poor” on Wednesday.IMD has forecast further improvement in the next 24 hours with increase in wind speed..