Overview
- DPCC has prohibited the use of coal and firewood in tandoors across all hotels, restaurants and open eateries under Section 31(A) of the Air Act, allowing only electric or gas appliances.
- Municipal bodies were told to conduct immediate checks, with violators facing fines, closure notices and other action under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.
- The Environment Department empowered deputy tehsildars and MCD/NDMC sanitary inspectors to impose Rs 5,000 on-the-spot compensation for open burning of garbage, leaves, plastic and rubber.
- Collected compensation must be deposited in the DPCC bank account and authorized officers are required to file monthly action-taken reports, operationalizing the NGT’s 2015 Vardhaman Kaushik order.
- The directives reference CAQM’s approved fuel list and GRAP provisions and were triggered by persistent winter air quality in the poor to very poor range, including an AQI of about 291 on Tuesday.