Delhi targets 100% treatment of sewage, industry effluents

Update: 2014-08-02 00:53 GMT
Delhi government on Friday recommended 100 per cent treatment of sewage and industrial effluents within three years so that they do not contaminate Yamuna, along with removal of encroachments on the river floodplain as part of long term measures to check water pollution.

It also suggested optimum utilisation of treated wastewater from STPs and CETPs, prevention of dumping of solid waste in drains, rationalisation of charges to incentives sewer connections, making land available for treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous and demolition waste and notification of sanitation bye-laws as short term measures to check water pollution.

The High Powered Committee (HPC) constituted to examine measures to check air and water
pollution emphasised upon providing strict punishment for littering and other offences, popularising water efficient fixtures, popularising rain water harvesting and ground water recharging.

Delhi government will also initiate a public awareness campaign to sensitise people and ensure public participation in these measures.

The short term measures to help reduce air pollution include effective implementation and tightening of Pollution Under Control (PUC) norms for all vehicles, regulating the entry and exit of non-destined vehicles in Delhi and adoption of a rationalised parking policy with clearly marked out ‘No Tolerance Zones’ etc.

The Committee also suggested introduction of EURO-V norms for vehicles to be registered in Delhi, promotion of non polluting battery operated vehicles and use of Metro and public transport such as buses etc to help reduce traffic along with prohibition of illegal burning of garbage and horticultural waste.

It also plans to set up Air Quality Monitoring Stations and suggested action plan for Green Delhi to be implemented more robustly.

The Committee proposed developing a Public Transport Plan for the city and its time bound implementation and amendment of Central Motor Vehicle Rules to bring down vehicular pollution.

It suggested setting up a trans-shipment zone in the bordering areas to avoid entry of such goods in the city, shifting of inland container depots to other locations and establishing Urban Transport Fund to promote public transport as part of the long term measures.

These recommendations were submitted by the High Powered Committee, headed by the Chief Secretary of Delhi, to Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung on Friday.

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