Action plan to curb pollution in Noida, Ghaziabad by September 15

The Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) has been directed to implement its air pollution abatement action plan in Noida and Ghaziabad by September 15.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has directed the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) to implement its air pollution abatement action plan in Noida and Ghaziabad by September 15. The direction was issued during a meeting conducted to discuss the winter preparedness to tackle pollution in NCR cities on Thursday.

Vehicular emission and construction activities are the major sources of pollution in Noida (HT File Photo)

Similar directions have also been issued to NCR cities of Haryana and Rajasthan — where authorities have been asked to keep a check on stubble burning. For Noida and Ghaziabad, CPCB said the major sources of pollution were construction activities and vehicular emission.

Ashok Tiwary, regional officer of UPPCB, said, “We have submitted that we regularly penalise construction sites not following National Green Tribunal directions and other environmental norms. We are fully prepared to implement the plan by September. Additionally, the board has asked us to penalise vehicles emitting black smoke.”

Since June this year, the UPPCB has imposed penalties worth over ₹70 lakh on construction projects violating environmental laws in Gautam Budh Nagar. During winters, the UPPCB will work with the transport department and the traffic police to actively fine polluting vehicles during winters.

According to the plan, Gautam Budh Nagar is set to get three continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations (CAAQMS) at a cost of ₹6 crore to strengthen air quality monitoring during the winter. The district currently has three active monitoring stations while three more are likely to be installed soon. In addition to these, Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board officials are now proposing three more monitoring stations.

“The idea is to have nine active air quality monitoring stations before the beginning of the winter season. All of them will be set up by early October. Mechanised sweeping machines will also arrive soon,” Tiwary said. He added that the these new stations would help monitor and mitigate air pollution in the district