AIR QUALITY COMMISSION DECIDED TO LIFT BAN ON MEDICAL, DAIRY, AND FEW OTHER INDUSTRIES – Delhi

In the National Capital Region, the Air Quality Management Commission has decided to lift the ban on industries like medical, paddy dairy, paper, and textile industries. The commission informed the Top Court by way of an affidavit which also stated that:

- Dairy processing Units in NCR have been allowed to resume 24x7 operations;

- Medicines and life-saving equipment industries to operate full-time operations;

- Paper and pulp processing industries to operate five times a week;

- Paddy, rice industries and textile, garment ones to work five days a week. 

The commission also informed that the industries that were closed after they could not switch to PNG can now operate 8 hours a day. Diesel Generator has been allowed in approximately 44 residential and commercial places.

Power plants have been permitted to operate, keeping in view the power demand. The Ministry of Power said that the current plants cannot remain shut anymore and even the six plants located within the 300 km radius of capital cannot stay shut beyond December 15.

However, the ban on activities related to construction will continue. Schools will also continue to function (virtual platforms). These will be reviewed again on December 17.

The commission's submissions came after a plea filed by a 17-year-old student before the Supreme Court regarding the air pollution in Captial and its adjacent areas. The SC passed a slew of orders leading to the closure of industries and a ban on entry of trucks into the national capital except those carrying essential products during the previous hearings. The Court also criticized the Central and State governments of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, UP, and Rajasthan for their negligence to find a solution to the frequent problem of air pollution, which affects the north Indian plains during the winter months.

Author: Papiha Ghoshal