The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas on Monday lifted ban on construction and demolition (C&D) activities in NCR and the ban on entry of petrol and diesel trucks into Delhi with immediate effect, mentioning an improvement in air quality over the past few days.

In its order, the Commission said construction and demolition activities can resume immediately, however each site needed to follow the norms and guidelines laid down by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

According to the order of copy with The Pioneer, CAQM said, “All construction and demolition sites in Delhi and the NCR districts of Uttar Pradesh with a plot size of more than 500sqm will, however, also have to register themselves on a ‘web portal’ developed by the state governments for online monitoring by agencies. For Rajasthan and Haryana, where the web portal is yet to be commissioned, the registration process will need to be done latest by January 20, 2022.”

“Air quality in Delhi has improved from the ‘very poor’ category and has been in the ‘poor’ category consistently for the last three days. The meteorological and weather forecast by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) indicates continuation of this favourable trend of wind speed and climatic conditions to facilitate dispersion of pollutants from the region,” said the CAQM in its order.

“Construction and demolition activities will also now be permitted, with immediate effect, subject to persons and agencies undertaking C&D activities strictly complying with directions and orders for dust control norms issued by the commission from time to time as well as those under the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules and various CPCB guidelines in this regard,” said the order.

Meanwhile, just few hours after the CAQM decision,  Delhi government also announced that it is lifting the ban on construction-demolition activity inside Delhi and allows the entry trucks coming from outside.

Gopal Rai, state Environment Minister said If anti-dust norms are not followed on the sites, strict action will be taken against them, the site can also be sealed. “Anti-dust campaign, anti-open burning campaign, water sprinkling and PUC checking drives will continue in Delhi. Night Patrol will now monitor construction sites for violations of the 14-point guidelines,” Rai added urging Delhi people to report violations via the Green Delhi App; will take the fight against pollution forward together.

He said air quality is now improving and colleges and schools for class 6 and above reopened after CAQM’s directions.

Addressing the trend of air pollution levels in Delhi, Rai said, “The pollution levels in Delhi had increased to a great extent post Diwali, reaching a very severe AQI of 500 which lasted for around a week. Keeping the serious pollution situation in mind, all construction and demolition works were banned in Delhi, and only activities of national importance were allowed to continue. All trucks that were entering Delhi, barring the essential services, were also banned. Schools, colleges, and other institutions were temporarily shut as well. Now we can see improvement in Delhi’s air quality and the AQI has not reached hazardous levels in the last ten days.”