L-G expresses displeasure over 'delay' in ordering pollution control measures by govt

New Delhi: L-G V K Saxena has expressed his "displeasure" over an alleged delay on the part of the Delhi government in issuing an order on pollution control measures and directed that it be conveyed to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, sources said on Thursday.

The critical order to mitigate air pollution in the city should have been issued by the chief secretary in October but it hasn't been done yet, which Saxena termed "gross negligence", the sources in the L-G office said.

The Delhi government, however, said it is serious and working actively to tackle air pollution in the city.

"The lapse on the part of the Delhi government is due to the fact that Environment Minister Gopal Rai did not clear the file related to issuing such orders for about a month," a source claimed. The chief secretary, in compliance with a November 2019 order of the Supreme Court order and an order of the Commission for Air Quality Management dated August 5, 2022, sent the file for approval to Rai on October 22.

"The file was returned to the chief secretary on November 17 without any observation of the minister. Afterwards, the chief secretary sent the file to the L-G and it was approved," the source said.

Approving the file, the L-G expressed "dismay and displeasure" at the Delhi government's "gross negligence" in this matter and asked that it be conveyed to the chief minister and environment minister, the sources said.

The "much-delayed" order is expected to be issued now, they said. Issuance of the order by the chief secretary would have made it mandatory for departments to fix responsibility of the concerned officers to ensure that measures for management of construction and demolition, waste and dust control, water sprinkling at pollution hotspots, repairing roads, closure of industries in non-conforming areas, banning open burning of biomass and solid waste and pollution under control certificate enforcement, among others, are taken.

Countering the allegations, the Delhi government said a 15-point action plan has been launched by CM Kejriwal to check air pollution during winters in the capital. It is being "successfully" implemented by all the concerned agencies, which is why air pollution in Delhi is under control this time as compared to past several years, the government said in a statement.