Task force releases draft for 12-point action plan to combat pollution

NEW DELHI: Coordinated action to combat stubble burning, commissioning of studies and launching a hotline and an app to report violations are some of the measures listed in the 12-point draft plan, formulated by a high-level task force to combat air pollution in Delhi-NCR.

The draft action plan also calls for developing an application for formulating journey plans as well as booking tickets for Delhi's major public transport systems, namely the Metro, Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) and Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses, within six months.

The high-level task force – headed by the Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi – has formulated the draft 'Air Action Plan Abatement of Air Pollution in the Delhi NCR' and invited suggestions in 15 days to make it more "effective and practical".

"The action plan lists key actions that the task force will monitor. It is recognised that the agencies responsible for the various determinants of air quality will take a number of other steps based on their assessment of need.

"The Secretary, MoEF (Ministry of Environment and Forest) will be responsible for overall coordination of the action agenda," said the draft put up on the Environment Ministry's website.

The draft proposes coordinated action to combat stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and also monitor enforcement measures to reduce stubble burning.

It also calls for implementing rollout of a plan for properly disposing of stubble and ensuring that independent data on stubble burning is available in real time in collaboration with the Department of science and Technology among others.

The plan further says that it should be ensured that the Delhi-NCR has an effective network of air quality monitoring stations.

"A pollution app should also be prepared, wherein citizens can take a picture of the violation and upload it for quick remedial action," the plan further observed.