Hardening its stance against open burning of trash, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi has decided to empower officials of its revenue department to crack the whip on the offenders to check growing air pollution.
Delhi Environment Minister Asim Ahmed Khan made the announcement to this effect on World Environment Day and enumerated several other steps taken by the AAP government towards improving the capital’s hazardous air quality.
Speaking on the sidelines of ‘Delhi Environment Summit’ here, he also blamed the previous governments for their “complete failure” in tackling air pollution, and stressed that Arvind Kejriwal-led dispensation was laying more emphasis on working on the ground rather than on paper.
“As per the order of the National Green Tribunal to stop burning of trash and dry leaves in the open, we are empowering tehsildars of revenue departments to take action against the offenders,” Khan said.
Earlier, the government had asked all sub-divisional magistrates to crack down on open burning of garbage, plastics and leaves in Delhi. It had also announced a helpline number (9717593574), for registration of complaints in this regard.
The AAP’s Matia Mahal MLA said it had served several notices to more than a hundred big construction sites
“Combating pollution is not the responsibility of Delhi only. That is why we have had talks with the Centre and other NCR states as well,” he said.
Khan said that the AAP government had adopted the policy of handing over “plant saplings” while welcoming guests instead of the usual norm of greeting with flower bouquets.
“We are also focusing on plantation. We plan to plant 14 lakh saplings,” he added.