NEW DELHI: The Environment department of Delhi government on Wednesday announced deployment of environment marshalls in various parts of the Capital to curb illegal burning of waster in the open, check dust emission from various sources and improper management of dhalaos, all of which contribute to air pollution.
"Home guard (HG) volunteers as Environmental marshals will be deployed by the Environment department. Fourteen HGs have already been deployed in seven wards – covering three wards of East Delhi Municipal Corporation and two wards each of South Delhi Municipal Corporation and North Delhi Municipal Corporation," said Delhi Environment minister Imran Hussain.
The wards include Anand Vihar, IP Extension, Jhilmil, Daryaganj, Okhla, Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar-Samaypur Badli and Shahbad Daulatpur-PoothKhurd.
A standard operating procedure (SOP) has also been developed for the working of the scheme, said the minister.
"In the coming days, the Department plans to increase the number of Marshalls to 100 who will be deployed in 50 wards. For better performance of duties, a training programme for the HGs was also organized," Hussain said.
He added that the Marshalls have been instructed to act as the "eyes and ears" of the Environment department and Delhi Pollution Control Committee.
The matters to be reported include burning of leaves in open, pollution due to the dumping of construction material in open without covering, dust pollution caused due to construction activity without taking adequate pollution control measures and pollution caused due to spillage of solid waste at dhalaos of MCD.
"We are committed to curb air pollution in the national Capital. I also appeal to the people of Delhi to lend their hand in controlling air pollution," said Hussain.