'No fuel without PUCC': Delhi to make two key GRAP-4 curbs permanent to fight pollution

NEW DELHI: Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced connected Saturday that 2 cardinal restrictions nether the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-4) volition present beryllium permanent, successful a bid to tackle the city’s persistent terrible aerial pollution. Speaking to the media, Sirsa said vehicles volition not beryllium provided petrol without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) until further notice, according to quality bureau ANI.

“Out of the restrictions nether GRAP-4, we person decided to marque 2 permanent. First, the PUCC requirement: you volition not get petrol anyplace without a PUCC certificate until the adjacent orders,” helium stated. The curate besides confirmed that vehicles entering Delhi from extracurricular the metropolis that bash not conscionable Bharat Stage VI (BS6) emanation standards volition look restrictions.

“Vehicles from extracurricular Delhi that are beneath BS6 volition besides beryllium restricted from entering the city,” helium added. Sirsa noted that authorities are intimately monitoring the weather, arsenic the Western Disturbance whitethorn pb to adverse conditions. “The anticipation of atrocious upwind is being indicated. Therefore, we are continuously monitoring the situation,” helium said, emphasizing that the government’s precedence is to minimize pollution-related hardships for Delhi residents.

Delhi’s aerial prime has deteriorated, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 390 astatine 6 p.m. connected Saturday, placing it successful the ‘Very Poor’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Experts counsel susceptible groups, including children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions, to bounds outdoor vulnerability and usage protective masks. Thick smog and fog are trapping pollutants, reducing visibility, and disrupting regular life.

Authorities are enforcing measures specified arsenic the ‘No PUC, No Fuel’ regularisation and Stage III restrictions nether GRAP, including limits connected operation and concern activities. Earlier, the Delhi Cabinet, led by main curate Rekha Gupta, approved measures to fortify biology governance successful the capital. A cardinal determination includes allocating Rs. 100 crore for the rejuvenation of h2o bodies crossed the city. Delhi has astir 1,000 h2o bodies, 160 of which autumn nether the government’s jurisdiction.

Sirsa said, “The rejuvenation of Delhi’s h2o bodies volition play a important relation successful contamination control. The main curate has directed that afloat fiscal enactment beryllium provided to implicit this enactment wrong the year.” The Cabinet besides approved the constitution of Delhi’s archetypal E-Waste Park astatine Holambi Kalan, spanning 11.5 acres. The installation volition travel strict pollution-control standards and run connected a 100 per cent circular, zero-waste model. Sirsa explained, “This volition beryllium India’s archetypal state-of-the-art e-waste installation built connected zero contamination and zero wastage principles. The works volition afloat recycle and reuse h2o done an precocious recirculation system.”