Consistent efforts made to tackle air pollution: Govt

 

Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar has adopted a consultative and cooperative approach to tackle the air pollution in and around Delhi.

The Minister has taken three review meetings with the Environment Ministers of Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and with the concerned senior officers of municipal bodies and police from these States.

The first meeting was held on April 6, 2015 at Vigyan Bhawan, while the second meeting was held on April 13, 2015 at Paryavaran Bhawan. The third meeting was held on July 24, 2015 at Parliament House.

"The pro-active approach adopted by the Ministry got a positive response from the States. It translated into the setting up of short-term prevention measures like stopping and burning of bio-wastes, initiating work for major up-gradation of Pollution Under Control (PUC) system, issuing challans of over-loaded goods vehicles, enhancing of parking slots availability, installation of waste to energy plants and strict monitoring of polluting industries," the statement claimed.

"At the meeting held on July 24, it was decided that all the States concerned will come out with an annual plan of initiatives to prevent air pollution and also come out with a long-term plan. As pollution cannot be tackled only through government efforts, the Centre will soon launch a massive people-oriented awareness campaign to check air pollution," it added.