New Delhi:: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has embarked on a comprehensive mission to combat the escalating air pollution crisis in the city, unveiling an ambitious Winter Action Plan (WAP) to address the issue head-on.

The WAP encompasses a series of initiatives designed to curtail dust pollution, eliminate open burning, and eradicate violations related to construction and demolition waste. In a notable move, the Public Works Department has supplied MCD with 60 Anti-Smog guns (ASGs) to bolster efforts in tackling dust pollution hotspots.

MCD's commitment to the Winter Action Plan is underscored by the deployment of 517 Surveillance Teams, consisting of 1119 officers tasked with monitoring and enforcing regulations pertaining to open burning, unauthorized dumping of construction and demolition waste, and maintaining dust-free roads within the city's jurisdiction, as stated in an official MCD press release.

Zonal Officers have received directives to rigorously adhere to the revised guidelines issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

The battle against air pollution also involves the mobilization of 52 Mechanical Road Sweepers, now operating with increased frequency and adjusted schedules, in line with the varying GRAP stages, on roads managed by the Public Works Department.

An impressive fleet of 225 water sprinklers, including 30 mobile Anti-smog guns (ASGs), has been strategically stationed along main roads to effectively combat dust pollution. To ensure the efficacy of these efforts, MCD has allocated Rs 20 lakhs to each zone for the procurement of dust suppressants, equipment maintenance, driver recruitment, and the efficient operation of ASGs.

MCD has gone a step further by installing 20 Anti-smog Guns at key facilities, such as C&D plants, Solid Waste Landfills (SLF), and Waste-to-Energy plants. An extended operational schedule has been implemented for these devices to maximize their impact.

Additionally, in compliance with the directive of the Honorable Lieutenant Governor, 15 ASGs have been installed at selected high-rise buildings within MCD's jurisdiction, all of which are currently operational.

Notably, 71 ASGs have been placed at 35 construction sites by project proponents, and these installations are subject to regular inspections by dedicated teams.

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has pinpointed micro sources of air pollution associated with various agencies in hotspot areas, with Nodal Officers (Deputy Commissioners of zones) taking coordinated action alongside relevant departments to combat air pollution in these critical zones.

To monitor and regulate construction and demolition activities, 504 sites have been registered on the DPCC's Construction and Demolition Waste (C&D) web portal. Zonal teams have been established to oversee these sites diligently. Furthermore, MCD has designated 146 specific locations for the responsible disposal of C&D waste and debris in various wards. The construction of 34 substantial dump sites is underway, facilitated in coordination with C&D plant concessionaires to ensure proper and lawful management of C&D waste, effectively curbing illegal dumping.

In a green initiative, MCD has planted an impressive 75,505 trees and 221,338 shrubs within its jurisdiction from April 2023 to October 2023, exceeding the target of 200,000 trees and 325,000 shrubs. This significant afforestation effort is expected to play a crucial role in reducing air pollution in the region.

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