'GRAP to be implemented from October 15 to March 15'
NEW DELHI: In the recently published data on the Delhi pollution, the CPCB showed that city has the much lesser polluted day this year, however, the green bodies and experts observed that whatever is the situation, the Graded Action Plan will be implemented to control the pollution. Keeping in mind the situation, the EPCA has already met the Delhi LG and the Delhi government to discuss action plan.
"The better days what we have seen was the effect of the Graded Response Action Plan by EPCA. This was the first time when various significant banns were imposed on the state thereafter we got such results," said Anumita Roy Choudhury, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy of Centre of Science and Environment (CSE).
Explaining the direction of the Supreme Court, she said, "Now we also have Comprehensive Action Plan as given by the Supreme Court for the NCR and some other states, that will also help and the Badarpur Power Plant will also be closed from the October that's a big relieve."
EPCA had, earlier this month, also written to the chief secretaries of all NCR states, including Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, seeking time to review the measures under GRAP. GRAP, which was notified last year, will be implemented between October 15 and March 15, said experts. The measures are suggested to reduce –PM 2.5 and PM 10 –the major pollutants in Delhi NCR, which can have an adverse effect on public health. Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijalalso chaired a meeting convened by the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) to review progress on various infrastructure and civic issues.
"The meeting started with a review of the action taken points of the previous meeting held at Raj Niwas on May 29. Baijal was informed about traffic management near Anand Vihar ISBT. The police said the traffic police deploys staff at all five major choke points daily. EPCA Chairperson Bhure Lal sought deployment of officers throughout the day. He directed the Uttar Pradesh Police to make similar arrangements," said an official.
