Road-map to curb air pollution ready, air quality to be monitored on daily basis : Environment Secretary

Addressing a presser, Union Environment Secretary, CK Mishra stated that Environment Ministry and Central Pollution Control Board will keep a close vigil on air quality levels on daily basis till December 21. He further added that strict action will be taken against those who will violate anti-pollution norms.

New Delhi:Union Environment Secretary, CK Mishra on Monday held a high-level meeting with chief secretaries of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the issue of air pollution and said that steps taken so far have been reviewed and now the government has prepared a road-map for the coming days.

Speaking at a press conference, CK Mishra said, "Environment Ministry and Central Pollution Control Board (CBPCB) will now monitor air quality levels very closely on a daily basis and it will remain till December 21 and the government will intensify its crackdown on those violating anti-pollution norms."

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Mishra said that the level of pollutants have been reducing slowly and its a gradual process. We need to put efforts continuously for the next 2-3 years to ensure that the environment does not deteriorate again.

"We are looking at new technology like smog towers which was proposed by IIT Bombay that we can use. Our government will not hesitate to try and experiment with any technology that will help in fixing the problem," Environment Secretary added.

Speaking about the future plans of Environment Ministry to curb air pollution, he said, "All dusty parts of roads in Delhi and neighbouring cities like Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Noida will either be paved or greened by next year."

Notably, the high-level meeting among the top officials comes after politicians and bureaucrats on November 15 had skipped the Parliamentary Standing Committee of Urban Development meeting over increasing air pollution in New Delhi.

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