3 focus areas for PWD in green fight

New Delhi: The Public Works Department (PWD) said on Friday that it was committed to implementing the 10-point anti-pollution winter action plan of Delhi government. PWD elaborated that it would focus on three areas — green cover, dust control and pothole repairs.

All government agencies involved with construction, among them the municipal corporations, New Delhi Municipal Council, Cantonment Board, Delhi Development Authority, CPWD and PWD, have been asked to submit plans to procure dust suppression chemicals, ensure mechanical road sweeping and ready disposal systems to manage dust vacuumed from the roads.

Confirming that the agency has submitted such a plan to Delhi government, a PWD official said, “We will make sure the central verge of PWD roads has a green cover of shrubs. Each PWD construction site measuring over 20,000 sq feet will have an anti-smog gun to settle dust and other air pollutants. Road patching and pothole repairs are also an important part of the pollution control plan because bad roads slow vehicles and increase emissions.”

A PWD order says, “As decided in its meeting on October 5, PWD officials have been directed by their higher authorities to inspect construction and demolition sites and open burning, and take necessary action against violators of NGT guidelines and send the report to nodal officer, air pollution.”