Overview
- The directive, which Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa issued Thursday, tells district magistrates to carry out intensive mapping of pollution hotspots and to submit periodic progress reports to follow-up review meetings.
- Sirsa singled out dust as a primary cause of poor air quality and asked magistrates to target damaged roads, construction sites and poorly maintained public parks for immediate dust-control measures.
- District administrations were instructed to work with Delhi Police, Traffic Police, MCD, PWD and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to remove encroachments, improve traffic management and enforce environmental rules.
- The government plans to expand the city’s AQI sensor network so officials can better attribute pollution to vehicles, industry, road dust or construction, but the measures are currently at the planning and directive stage with execution pending.
- Officials must also identify polluting industrial units for regulatory action and deploy ‘Vyapar Mitras’ in DPCC and district offices to help businesses comply with rules, a step meant to speed enforcement while reducing procedural delays for firms.