The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has issued an advisory to all Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and other residential societies in Delhi, with the aim of significantly curbing open burning practices and the harmful emissions that result from burning biomass and Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). This is especially important during the upcoming winter season.
The advisory requires all security staff and other service staff employed by the RWAs to have electric heaters or other suitable implements.
The Commission acknowledges that, as winter draws near, it is imperative to publish an advisory to address the problem of uncontrolled burning of MSW, including bio-mass (wood, twigs/branch, dried leaves, etc.), especially in Delhi-NCR during the winter.
In addition to other harmful gaseous pollutants, the practice of security personnel and other individuals burning biomass and MSW outside during the winter months, often in an attempt to stay warm, quickly aggravates ambient air pollution levels of PM2.5 and PM10, leading to the imposition of preventive/restrictive measures under various stages of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) throughout the entire NCR.
The Commission, since its inception, has issued advisories, orders and directions towards mitigating the ill-effects of such uncontrolled open burning of waste/ biomass. Open burning of MSW and bio-mass etc., besides at other locations, is also witnessed across residential areas and is resorted to by the security staff / other service providers, particularly in gated residential complexes across Delhi during night times in the winters for heating/ warming purposes.
The Commission’s latest Advisory to RWAs across NCR emphasizes the importance of providing sustainable alternatives such as electric heaters to mitigate the need for open burning, thereby reducing the emission of pollutants and contributing to cleaner, air for all. Further, RWAs and residents at large also need to be actively involved in fulfilling the collective responsibility to significantly improve upon the adverse air quality which is generally witnessed in Delhi during the winter months.
In furtherance, the Directorate of Urban Local Bodies, GNCTD and the municipal bodies have also been advised to sensitize and widely disseminate this requirement amongst all the RWAs in Delhi and also monitor the implementation of the same periodically, under advice to the Commission.
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