A Central Pollution Control Board-led task force on Monday recommended a closure of factories located in hotspot industrial areas and a ban on construction activities till Wednesday in view of the severe air pollution in the national capital.
Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘severe’ level for the third consecutive day on Monday as wind speed and other meteorological factors remained “highly unfavourable” for dispersion of pollutants.
People have been advised by the authorities to minimise outdoor activities and avoid the use of private vehicles as the city battles its worst pollution levels since Diwali.
The CPCB has recommended to the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) to shut down industries located in the hotspot industrial areas of Wazirpur, Mundka, Narela, Bawana, Sahibabad and Faridabad until Wednesday.
It also recommended a ban on construction activities in Delhi, Faridabad, Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Noida during the same period.
The CPCB added that the traffic police should deploy special teams to ensure smooth vehicular movement, especially in identified high traffic corridors.
“Police department concerned to strictly ensure that non-destined heavy-duty vehicles travel through eastern and western peripheral expressways. Agencies concerned to ensure strict action against illegal industries,” the CPCB-led task force said.
On Saturday, the task force had recommended that authorities intensify ground actions to enforce measures already in place, particularly to control emissions from vehicles and burning of biomass.
The other recommendations made are: agencies concerned to increase surveillance to find industrial waste dumping or burning especially in hotspots that are vulnerable to high pollution level, water sprinkling and mechanized sweeping to be intensified and traffic police to ensure smooth flow of traffic, including during long holidays.
The task force also urged people to avoid using private vehicles particularly diesel vehicles and minimize outdoor exposure for next three to five days, especially for those with respiratory illness, the CPCB said.
