New Delhi [India], December 18 : Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Thursday inspected various petrol pumps to ensure compliance with the no fuel without Pollution Certificate order.
Speaking to ANI, Sirsa firmly stated that the entire Delhi-NCR region must fight against air pollution. He emphasised that the goal is to lower the Air Quality Index in the capital city and the NCR region, amidst the bad weather conditions for the next seven days.
"I started reviewing petrol pumps from the Delhi-Haryana border. The entire NCR region together will have to fight this pollution. Even the Haryana Traffic Police have set up a check post in their area. The next seven days are expected to see bad weather, but we aim to lower the AQI. This awareness campaign will continue. I have come to know that many private organisations are not following the 50% work from home norm; action will be taken against them..." he said.
The National Capital Delhi overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 361 at around 1 pm today, placing it in the 'very poor' category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Meanwhile, teams from Transport Enforcement conducted checks on vehicles in the National Capital as part of intensified measures to combat rising air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region.
This comes a day after the Supreme Court allowed the Delhi government to take action against owners of vehicles operating below the BS IV emission standard in the NCR. Vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) will be denied fuel at petrol pumps, while trucks carrying construction materials into Delhi have been banned to curb pollution levels.
The Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, through the Department of Environment and Forests, on Wednesday issued directions under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, mandating that fuel be dispensed only to vehicles with a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate.
The notification also restricts entry of vehicles registered outside Delhi and below BS-VI standards, and bans vehicles carrying construction materials during GRAP Stage IV (Severe+) conditions.