Government launches bus service for employees to encourage public transport
Following the deterioration of air quality in winter in the national capital, the Delhi government attempted to encourage public transport and introduced a bus service for its employees from 14 destinations to the Secretariat, in order that they avoid their private vehicles, officials said.
The government is also running around 700 additional buses on various routes under “Paryawaran Sewa†to encourage public transport and minimize air pollution.
The Delhi Transport Corporation on November 29 launched a special bus service from various residential settlements housing Delhi government officials. These include Gulabi Bagh, Mayur Vihar Phase III, Karkardooma, Timarpur, Hari Nagar and Dwarka at the secretariat where the Delhi government operates, a transport official said.
Air quality in the nation’s capital continued to be in the “poor” category with the Air Quality Index (AQI) of 320 at 9 am Friday, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board .
As of Thursday, the city’s 24-hour AQI stood at 361, while neighbors Faridabad (283), Gurugram (287), Noida (304) and Greater Noida (286) also recorded air quality in the mediocre category. Ghaziabad, with an AQI of 309, falls into the very poor category.
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 bad, 301 and 400 very bad, and 401 and 500 severe.
Meanwhile, earlier today, the Supreme Court ordered the Commission for the Management of Air Quality (CAQM) to consider various requests for intervention aimed at lifting the building ban and relaxing industrial restrictions within one week.
A bench led by India’s Chief Justice NV Ramana has called on the Air Quality Commission to decide to lift the construction ban and relax industrial restrictions.
The court said it expects the commission to take an appeal within a week.
The Court heard various requests for intervention from various manufacturers, forums, sugar, rice and paper factories, etc.
In the meantime, the court has asked the states of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to file affidavits mentioning compliance with the order ordering the payment of minimum wages to workers during the construction ban.
The Air Quality Commission told the Supreme Court that the expert group it has set up is finalizing a model for predicting air quality in terms of the quality index. air (AQI).
Lead lawyer Vikas Singh, representing the applicants, told the court things had improved, but insisted that aspects such as thatch burning and standards for Delhi may need to be reconsidered.
The Supreme Court hears a plea calling for immediate action to reduce pollution in the national capital region.
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