‘Unprecedented rise in AQI’: NGT asks BMC to prepare 100-day action plan

Bhopal: Stressing on the need for an action plan, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) said that Bhopal’s air quality is seeing an alarming deterioration and an unprecedented rise in AQI, posing an immediate and serious threat to the health and lives of city residents and adversely affecting the environment. The green watchdog pointed to how the AQI repeatedly reached the very poor category with readings as high as 336.

The Bhopal-based central bench asked authorities to prepare a 100-days action plan to mitigate air pollution for the period from Nov to Jan, when the air quality index (AQI) is often at its worst in the city. Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other respondents in the case were asked to present an action taken report (ATR) in this regard before the next date of hearing in the case on Aug 20.

The bench comprising Justice Sheo Kumar Singh and expert member Vineet Kumar Chaturvedi, while jointly hearing the petition filed by Bhopal Citizens’ Forum and environmental activist Rashid Noor Khan, said that harmful effects on human health has drawn the attention of the petitioners for taking immediate remedial measures. This petition has been filed with prayer to direct the respondents to stop artificial manipulation of AQI monitoring and to take immediate urgent air pollution mitigation measures.

The green watchdog further said that multiple health effects on humans have been observed from the resulting air pollution, ranging from skin and eye irritation to severe neurological, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Prolonged exposure to elevated pollution levels also increases the mortality rates. There are adverse effects on the economy, human health increasing the death rate.

The tribunal told BMC and other stakeholders that the said action plan should have components as decided by the joint committee constituted by the tribunal. The measures should include enforcing solid waste collection and imposing fine/challan home burning activity, ban on burning of wood/ coal in hotels, banning bonfire and firecrackers and introducing LPG/electric heaters, construction of pit in garden and enforcing heavy vehicle restrictions.

The tribunal order further said that a campaign to inspect four wheelers and commercial vehicles for emission should be undertaken, along with special drives to increase the green cover in the city.

The tribunal further said that for controlling vehicular emissions, which is a major source of air pollution in the city, should also be addressed. For construction Dust and C&D waste management, strict dust control measures at construction sites should also be enforced.