Noida administration to crack down on open burning, polluting vehicles

The district magistrate directed officials to ensure that National Green Tribunal (NGT) norms pertaining to burning garbage, plastic material or harvest residue are followed.

Directing officials to ensure that green norms are being adhered to, the newly-appointed district magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar, BN Singh, on Friday warned violators of strict action.

Environmentalists had cited burning of crackers during Diwali and burning of residual harvest by farmers in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab for poor air quality. (HT File)

This was the first meeting held by Singh since his appointment on Wednesday. He replaced NP Singh, who has been transferred to Saharanpur.

The district magistrate directed officials to ensure that National Green Tribunal (NGT) norms pertaining to burning garbage, plastic material or harvest residue are followed.

“As per NGT norms, a fine of Rs5,000 will be levied on those burning waste in the open. It is illegal for farmers to burn residue of harvest as it contributes to smog. Officials must ensure that proper action is taken against all violators. However, many are not aware of such laws of the NGT. Therefore, we must also propagate the law and make citizens and farmers aware of it,” said Singh.

The advisory comes in the wake of worsening air quality in Delhi-NCR since Diwali in November 2016. A thick blanket of smog had engulfed the area after Diwali. Many had complained of irritation in the eye and uneasiness in breathing. The level of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) crossed 900 micrograms per cubic metre, more than 15 times the permissible limit. Schools across Delhi-NCR were shut for three days due to the severe pollution and construction activities were suspended on orders of the state governments in the region. Environmentalists had cited burning of crackers during Diwali and burning of residual harvest by farmers in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab for the condition.

Taking cognizance of the condition of air level in the environment, the district administration and the police said they will crack down on vehicles flouting transport department laws.

“Till now, we have taken action against 416 vehicles for pollution and fined 314 for overloading. There is a need to conduct a stricter check of vehicles entering the Delhi-Noida and UP-Haryana borders to mitigate pollution level,” said Singh.