Photos: Resource crunch chokes pollution fight in Delhi

With severe deterioration in air quality since Diwali celebrations and the annual crop burning cycle in the neighbouring states, Delhi’s Air Quality Index moved from ‘severe’ category to ‘very poor’ for a couple of days earlier this week. But pollution levels are set to rise once again in the National Capital, and municipal agencies, the primary enforcement agencies for pollution control measures, are grappling with the limitation of resources, staff, and finance, which are slowing down the city’s fight against pollution. ...read more

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Updated on Nov 21, 2019 07:33 PM IST

Pollution levels are set to rise once again in the Capital, but municipal agencies, the primary enforcement agencies for pollution control measures, are grappling with the limitation of resources, staff, and finance, which are slowing down the city’s fight against pollution. (Sanjeev Verma/ HT Photo)

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A bird’s eye view of the Signature Bridge engulfed in smog, in New Delhi. Senior officials from the three municipalities in Delhi said that despite orders from the Supreme Court to step up action against pollution, the work on the ground is suffering because they do not have enough waste collection vehicles, manpower, and equipment to deal with garbage and construction and demolition waste. (Sanjeev Verma/ HT Photo)

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An East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) truck sprinkles water on the road to curb pollution, at Anand Vihar. The state of the EDMC is also particularly bad because of the cash crunch. A senior official said that even though eight new mechanical sweepers were bought by the corporation in September this year, they could not be used because there was no money to buy diesel. (Sanchit Khanna/ HT Photo)

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The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (Epca) had ordered agencies to begin water sprinkling as a dust control measure from October 15, as a precautionary measure under the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap). However, it wasn’t until November 11 that the EDMC procured sprinkling machines. EDMC commissioner Dilraj Kaur said that the corporation has issued over 4,000 fines and collected over ₹2 crore as penalty for pollution norm violations in the last two months. (Vipin Kumar/ HT Photo)

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Volunteers from Namami Gange project are seen cleaning the ghats of Yamuna amid dense smog. The North Corporation has also been struggling with enforcement. Officials said that even though they had pooled in all resources, lack of both manpower and finances had limited their capacity in the field. Following Delhi’s lieutenant governor’s orders, the civic body has also compulsorily retired 39 officials—the highest in any civic agency in Delhi. (Sanchit Khanna/ HT Photo)

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A South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SMCD) truck loads garbage, near Kalindi Kunj. The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) might be better than its counterparts, but the shortage of staff strength is also pinching its efforts. “Officials are putting in all their efforts since the SC order. But manpower is definitely overworked,” Kamaljeet Sehrawat, leader of the house, SDMC, said. (Burhaan Kinu/ HT Photo)