Delhi is reviewing its measures of air pollution control, and PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to the PM, expressed dismay over delay in clearing its landfill sites. Three major landfills at Bhalaswa, Okhla, and Ghazipur, scheduled for clearance by 2026 under Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0 launched in 2021, will exceed that deadline.
At the meeting of the high-level task force for addressing air pollution, Mishra highlighted that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi was running late with not only the landfill clearance but also waste-to-energy plans. He appealed to both Union Ministries of Environment and Housing & Urban Affairs and the MCD to further address the issue.
The meeting brought together officials from various bodies, such as the Delhi government, Delhi Police, and Commission for Air Quality Management. Delhi’s Chief Secretary Dharmendra read a report on the efforts by the metropolitan city to manage air quality through 2024 and reflected on how construction dust, biomass burning, and vehicular emissions remain major contributors to pollution in winter months. He underlined current initiatives such as building up of an electric bus fleet, mechanised road cleaning, and efforts to reduce waste burning.
Mishra underlined strengthening the enforcement of current laws to build support to address the persistent air quality problems, and importantly, developing a clear plan in respect to increasing the promotion of electric vehicles, especially for commercial and public transportation.