CAQM reviews air pollution mitigation actions and strategies with haryana and punjab governments
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Sources in CAQM said the panel is likely to comment on ELVs next week. CAQM had earlier directed that ELVs would be denied fuel in Delhi from July 1, in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar and Sonipat from Nov 1 this year and the rest of NCR from April 1 next year.
After a public outcry after some ELVs were impounded on the first two days of the ban, environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa wrote to CAQM on Thursday, highlighting operational and technological shortcomings, including the placement of automated number plate recognition cameras.
He described the initiative as "premature and potentially counterproductive" and formally requested the panel to pause the drive.
CAQM held the meeting on multi-sectoral air pollution mitigation actions and strategies on the day Delhi govt requested it to keep on hold the drive against ELVs. During the meeting with Haryana govt, CAQM carried out a detailed review of critical areas, including preparedness for the elimination of paddy stubble burning in 2025 as per the approved action plan and compliance with prescribed emission norms by thermal power plants.
"Other issues reviewed included road dust mitigation strategies and various directions issued by the commission to curb vehicular emissions. These included the progress made towards the liquidation of ELVs and the installation of ANPR camera systems in accordance with direction number 89 dated April 23, fast-tracking of adoption of cleaner mobility vehicles services by motor vehicle aggregators, delivery service providers, and e-commerce entities," said CAQM on Saturday.
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CAQM also held a review meeting with Punjab govt the same day, discussing the state's preparations as per the approved plan to eliminate paddy stubble burning and the implementation of the plan to prevent and check harvest stubble burning in 2025, with steps such as mandatory use of biomass pellets in brick kilns and compliance with prescribed emission norms by thermal power plants.
The meeting also took stock of the implementation of directions related to vehicular pollution, including the migration of inter-city buses to cleaner fuel modes and restrictions on polluting transport/commercial goods vehicles entering Delhi.
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