Task force holds meetings on WhatsApp for urgent issues

New Delhi: What happens when air pollution levels in Delhi ise 'severe' but members of environment watchdog CPCB and others, tasked with monitoring the situation, are not in the city to attend a meeting in which crucial decisions need to be taken immediately?

The meeting takes place on WhatsApp, the chat sharing social media platform that doubles up as a conference room for urgent, can't wait decisions.

That's what happened on Monday when the 10-member Central Pollution Control Board-led task force took the decision to lift the ban on the entry of heavy vehicles, officials said. The 'WhatsApp meeting' on Monday also recommended a shift in the time slot for the entry of heavy vehicles into the national capital – heavy vehicles will now be able to ply between 6 am to 6 pm.

According to a senior CPCB official, the meeting was urgent and officials from distant places would not have been able to make it on time.