Centre deploys 40 flying squads to monitor AQI norms in Delhi

New Delhi: The Enforcement Task Force (ETF) of the Commission for Air Quality Management has said that a total of 40 flying squads have been deployed to inspect and monitor the compliance of its directions to control air pollution in Delhi-NCR.

As per reports, the flying squads will be implementing pollution control measures through surprise checks, inspection and closure of polluting units, besides announcing criminal prosecution and imposition of fines on violators.

Based on the report of the flying squads, the Enforcement Task Force will have the power to order closures, seizures and issue financial penalties for non-compliance.

"Flying squads, particularly, check for compliance in respect of various directions and orders issued by the Commission from time to time towards abatement of air pollution, particularly for measures to be taken for the critical winter months, including related statutory environmental rules, regulations and guidelines issued by the agencies concerned in the Central and state governments," an Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry statement said.

General compliance levels are reported to be satisfactory and improving over the days. However, serious violations are still being reported across sectors, majorly in industrial units, construction and demolition project sites, use of diesel generator sets in industrial installation commercial complexes and residential set-ups.

In geographical terms, such gross violations have been reported across the respective jurisdictions in the NCR, with 38, 48, 104 and 38 cases reported from Delhi and NCR Districts of Haryana, UP, and Rajasthan, respectively.

In respect of 1,215 number of cumulative inspections carried out till December 7, 2021, gross violations of directions and orders of the commission and non-adherence of prescribed norms have been reported from 228 number of units or sites across various sectors.

Of these, closures have been identified for 128 industries, 58 construction/demolition project sites and 42 commercial or residential complexes operating on DG sets.

The Flying Squads have further verified physical closure of operations and 111 such units have so far been physically closed down, till further orders from the Commission.