Meeting Chaired by Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister

The Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Dr. P.K. Mishra, chaired a meeting of the high-level task force on air pollution in Delhi-NCR at the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday. The meeting aimed to review the preparations being made by various parties to tackle the problem of adverse air quality in the region as the winter season approaches.

Focus on Paddy Straw Burning

During the meeting, Dr. P.K. Mishra directed the Chief Secretaries of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to closely monitor the incidents of burning of paddy straw in their respective states. He emphasized the need for in-situ management of paddy straw through Crop Residue Management (CRM) machines and the use of bio-decomposers. These measures are expected to significantly reduce the practice of stubble burning, which is a major contributor to air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region.

Implementation of Graded Response Action Plan

The Principal Secretary also discussed the implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and measures to improve its implementation at the field level. GRAP is a comprehensive plan that outlines specific actions to be taken based on the severity of air pollution levels in the Delhi-NCR region. It includes measures such as banning certain activities, increasing public transportation, and implementing stricter emission standards for industries.