Delhi Govt. takes back construction ban order

Delhi Govt. withdraws construction ban order

Delhi Govt. withdraws construction ban order

Says air quality “improved considerably”

New Delhi, Nov. 22 (Delhi Crown): The AAP-led government in Delhi withdrew its ban order on construction activity on Monday, claiming that air quality over the national capital and the extended suburban areas has “improved considerably” in comparison to last week.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said: “The prevailing pollution in Delhi has now been decreasing, due to various measures taken against it and the change in wind speed. Keeping this in mind, the ban on demolition and construction has now been taken back, but strict monitoring will continue.”

Rai further stated that, “Any site caught violating the 14-point guidelines, for controlling pollution, will be shut without notice and will face strict proceedings and imposed with a penalty. We’ve constituted 585 joint monitoring teams with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Revenue Department and the various municipal corporations in Delhi.”

He, however, said that the work from home order for all city government employees will continue till November 26.

The ban on the entry of heavy vehicles like trucks, etc., except those ferrying essential commodities, shall remain in force as well till November 26, Rai said. Entry to CNG-friendly trucks may be permitted soon, he added.

About a fortnight ago, Rai had urged the Centre to call an emergency meeting of all neighbouring states of Delhi, i.e., Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, to discuss ways to deal with the problem of pollution.

At that time and till the end of last week, the air quality index (AQI) stood in the severe category. The problem was so grave that the Delhi government had to ban construction activity and deploy 114 water tankers to sprinkle water on the capital’s roads to settle dust.

The air quality over Delhi and adjoining areas was also compromised by the celebration of Diwali with firecrackers in complete violation of a city government-imposed ban.

Health experts had even suggested that people experiencing respiratory trouble should stop going for morning or evening walks and wear protective masks at all times. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’.

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