CAQM Cracks Down on Delhi's Dusty Roads: Road Maintenance Agencies Under Scrutiny
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In a bid to combat air pollution, the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) conducted a comprehensive inspection of over 130 road stretches in Delhi. The drive aimed to assess the effectiveness of corrective measures implemented by the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). According to officials, the CAQM deployed 15 teams from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to inspect 106 road stretches maintained by the PWD and 2 teams from the Central Pollution Control Board to re-inspect 27 road stretches under the DDA's jurisdiction. The findings revealed a mixed bag. While the re-inspection of DDA-maintained road stretches showed a significant improvement, with none of the stretches falling under the high dust category, the PWD-maintained road stretches still faced issues with high visible dust levels, municipal solid waste, and construction and demolition waste accumulation. The CAQM emphasized the need for regular mechanical sweeping, timely lifting and disposal of collected dust and waste, maintenance of road stretches and central verges, effective deployment of water sprinkling and dust-suppression mechanisms, and strict prevention of open burning across all stretches. The commission's actions are part of its ongoing efforts to enforce the Graded Response Action Plan and maintain air quality standards in the NCR region.
