Air Pollution: NHRC holds third hearing with states regarding air pollution, gives necessary guidelines

The National Human Rights Commission of India held its third hearing on air pollution in Delhi NCR on Friday. At the same time, seeking further report, the next date of hearing has been fixed for November 25, 2022.

JK Srivastava, Deputy Director, Media and Communications, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) informed that the hearing has taken place today. All the states responded to our queries.

He said, there will be another hearing on November 25. Our main concern is to provide clean air to the citizens which includes stopping stubble burning with the help of machines, providing facilities to poor farmers, and providing a mechanized system for street cleaning, etc.

He said, in the meeting of the commission on the 25th, there will be specific strategic plans as well as a schedule of sanitation and other ways and how besides stopping stubble burning it is being taken care of and how the government can take the responsibility of providing will be discussed.

There is also talk of providing machines to farmers through a system that can be operated through panchayats and other local bodies, free of cost to poor farmers and with a small fee to those who can afford it. Will be

Need for a better strategic plan- Commission

Noting, inter alia, some of the actions taken by the State Governments regarding the management of stubble, dust, hospital sewage waste, and controlling air pollution, the Commission emphasized that the right to life and health of citizens A strategic plan is needed to reduce the time between policies and their implementation to provide clean air and environment with better civic amenities to ensure safety.

The Punjab government will have to keep machines

The commission said that the Punjab government would have to provide machines for the poor farmers to harvest and dispose of the stubble. To bring down the incidence of stubble burning to zero, machines for harvesting should be provided free of cost to poor farmers through panchayats or cooperative societies. Some fees may be charged to those who can afford it.

The commission sought specific details of the stubble; By specifying how much lit and at what location events are processed effectively. Also asked to find out the alternative if the crop residue decomposer machines are not working effectively.

It said that states need to make special provisions in the budget for purchasing mechanized sweeping machines for each city in coordination with the municipal bodies but in a phased manner. He said that there should be a road map for providing civic amenities.

Buy equipment for cleaning septic tanks

The commission was particularly concerned about the deaths of persons involved in hazardous cleaning without protection and said that governments should implement the NHRC's advice of September 2021, strengthen local bodies, and provide proper training to persons involved in hazardous cleaning of septic tanks. Mechanical cleaning devices such as bandicoots and safety equipment should be purchased.

The commission said that it is high time that the public functionaries take note of this or else it would be constrained to recommend criminal proceedings against them.

Places with poisonous gas will have to be identified

The commission further said, by entrusting the cleaning of septic tanks and sewage to a contractor, the authorities cannot absolve themselves of their statutory responsibilities. He also said that the government should identify the places where there is a danger of poisonous gas and put up danger signals.

A specific report has been sought from the Uttar Pradesh government on the number of hospitals not following the guidelines for the disposal of medical waste and the date-wise details of the action taken to cancel the licenses of the violators.

It emphasized that plantations and their survival should be regularly monitored to ensure green belt cover and clean air. A deadline of March 2023 can be set to complete the work of kutcha roads and potholes.

These instructions were given to the Delhi government

The commission asked the Delhi government to identify the causes of poor air quality at the hot spots and fix a time frame. The commission also inquired about the status of alternative landfill sites for waste disposal and cleaning.

Meanwhile, notices are also being issued to the concerned heads of NDMC, Transport Department, Delhi Jail Board, Police Department, Air Quality Commission, GRAP, Delhi Cantonment Board, CPWD, NBCC, NHAI, DMRC, Central Pollution Control Board, DDA and For NCDRC, Delhi Pollution Control Board

Submit your feedback on the steps being taken or proposed to be taken to improve the air quality in Delhi NCR to ensure safe health and ambient environment for the citizens before 25th November.

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