SC-appointed pollution panel chief on odd-even:
SC-appointed pollution panel chief on odd-even: It takes political will, we welcome it.
The Delhi government’s odd-even pollution-control plan was not everyone’s “cup of tea”, but it was a move in the right direction, chairman of the Supreme Court-appointed Environmental Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) Bhure Lal said Tuesday. “It (odd-even policy) is not our cup of tea. But any step taken to decrease the number of vehicles on the road is welcome. We can all see that the number of vehicles on the roads has significantly gone down and the flow of traffic is smooth,” said Lal.
When asked if neighbouring states like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh should also enforce odd-even vehicle operations, Lal said, “It takes political will. MNCs in Noida have started carpooling or converting to CNG. Once people are alive to the problem, they will definitely take steps to tackle it. If not voluntarily, then there is the force of law.”
The EPCA held its last meeting on January 2, in which, Lal said, UP and Haryana governments were told to follow the orders of the Supreme Court, like the Delhi government had done, on burning of garbage and cracking down on construction dust.
“Delhi has taken action but UP and Haryana are not enforcing it seriously. They think it is Delhi’s problem,” said Lal. He said that though cases of burning of garbage and leaves were seen in Delhi earlier, few such incidents were recorded now. The Delhi government had started imposing fines to control dust levels caused by large-scale construction, he said.
“You have to see the amount of construction that goes on in Noida, Greater Noida and Gurgaon,” Lal said.
Officers of the environment department, meanwhile, are expected to collect pollution data from 200 different locations across Delhi during the odd-even operations.
“We have seen a decreasing trend (in pollution) but East Delhi remains worrisome, especially areas like Seelampur. We are also told that there is a lot of vehicular movement around the Ghazipur border because there is a popular petrol pump there. We will have to take joint measures with the UP government to control pollution in East Delhi,” said a senior government official.
He added that Akshardham onwards, the land was owned by the UP government’s irrigation department and their participation in pollution-control activities was necessary.
Senior officials also said that on December 30, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) issued closure notices to thermal power plants at Rajghat and four of the five power units at Badarpur. “The closure notices state that the power plants will remain shut till March 15. We will review their condition after that,” said an official.
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/sc-appointed-pollution-panel-chief-on-odd-even-it-takes-political-will-we-welcome-it/#sthash.HFDU88K8.dpuf more
The Delhi government’s odd-even pollution-control plan was not everyone’s “cup of tea”, but it was a move in the right direction, chairman of the Supreme Court-appointed Environmental Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) Bhure Lal said Tuesday. “It (odd-even policy) is not our cup of tea. But any step taken to decrease the number of vehicles on the road is welcome. We can all see that the number of vehicles on the roads has significantly gone down and the flow of traffic is smooth,” said Lal.
When asked if neighbouring states like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh should also enforce odd-even vehicle operations, Lal said, “It takes political will. MNCs in Noida have started carpooling or converting to CNG. Once people are alive to the problem, they will definitely take steps to tackle it. If not voluntarily, then there is the force of law.”
The EPCA held its last meeting on January 2, in which, Lal said, UP and Haryana governments were told to follow the orders of the Supreme Court, like the Delhi government had done, on burning of garbage and cracking down on construction dust.
“Delhi has taken action but UP and Haryana are not enforcing it seriously. They think it is Delhi’s problem,” said Lal. He said that though cases of burning of garbage and leaves were seen in Delhi earlier, few such incidents were recorded now. The Delhi government had started imposing fines to control dust levels caused by large-scale construction, he said.
“You have to see the amount of construction that goes on in Noida, Greater Noida and Gurgaon,” Lal said.
Officers of the environment department, meanwhile, are expected to collect pollution data from 200 different locations across Delhi during the odd-even operations.
“We have seen a decreasing trend (in pollution) but East Delhi remains worrisome, especially areas like Seelampur. We are also told that there is a lot of vehicular movement around the Ghazipur border because there is a popular petrol pump there. We will have to take joint measures with the UP government to control pollution in East Delhi,” said a senior government official.
He added that Akshardham onwards, the land was owned by the UP government’s irrigation department and their participation in pollution-control activities was necessary.
Senior officials also said that on December 30, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) issued closure notices to thermal power plants at Rajghat and four of the five power units at Badarpur. “The closure notices state that the power plants will remain shut till March 15. We will review their condition after that,” said an official.
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/sc-appointed-pollution-panel-chief-on-odd-even-it-takes-political-will-we-welcome-it/#sthash.HFDU88K8.dpuf more
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lot of expectations were aroused by two dynamic and differently thinking leaders modi and kejriwal 2 years back.but gradually we started loosing momentum and the feeling has started creeping in my mind that they are also getting derailed, loosin their character for which people voted them.i feel happy to see at least something good happening in india.i thank kejriwal for this courageous and right step and hope he will not succumb to compulsions of pitty politics and will keep it sustained.on the contrary even more harsh measures need to be taken.i urge my fellow citizens to rise above personal convenience and become ready to bear at least some brunt for overall well being of our country and humanity.it is time to people show their character .we cannot become a developed nation if we cannot sacrifice or take a slightest of pain more
Jan 08
Yest,it is best for the nation to restrict private cars. On Wed, Jan 6, 2016 at 2:41 PM, Sunil Dutt Agrawal < support@localcirclesmail.com> wrote: > more
Jan 07
When Delhi government has taken such a courageous step to improve life in Delhi the comments or questions from High Court look very silly. the observation by the court is that why 15 days of odd/even, as people are suffering. I would like to ask the courts in India what are they doing to clear the number of court cases in India which have pub people under financial and mental stress for decades. They should answer that before questioning Delhi government who are doing a good job. more
Jan 07
Along with odd/even experiment the laws enforcing the auto drivers must become so harsh that exploitation of people who are getting into the habit of leaving their cars at home that auto drivers attitudes / meters/ etc does not make the week willed rush back to the safety of their own vehicles. more
Jan 07
WELL DONE AK, ODD/EVEN CAR RATIONING EXPERIMENT, AGAINST STIFF OPPOSITION, LES U TAKE THE CREDIT HELPING DELHI TO GET RID OF TRAFFIC JAMS/LESSENING POLLUTION. IT HAS BEEN A GREAT SUCCESS. I TRAVELLED FROM NEHRU PLACE TO SAKET & OTHER PLACES ALMOST WHOLE DAY, I FOUND NO TRAFFIC JAMS ANY WHERE, & TRAVEL BY BUS & METRO WERE VERY COMFORTABLE. QUOTE FROM TODAY'S(07.01.2016) HT DAILY PAGE NO 04 "SALE OF PETROL, DIESEL DOWN BY OVER 40%"..... JUST IMAGINE HOW MUCH POLLUTION & TRAFFIC HAS BEEN REDUCED FROM DELHI ROADS, IF WE GO BY THIS NEWS OF DROPPING OF PETROL, DIESEL SALE IN DELHI! more
Jan 07
