CAQM issues advisory curb open waste burning; Delhi performs badly in GRAP

NEW DELHI: The Centre for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has released a new advisory to prevent the open burning of municipal solid waste and biomass, including wood, dried leaves, and other organic matter, in the national capital. The panel said that the performance of the city under its previous advisory has been “far from satisfactory.”

While addressing the issue of worsening air quality, the CAQM has directed the Additional Chief Secretary of Directorate of Urban Local Bodies, and Commissioner of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), asking them to ensure that security staff and service workers are given electric heaters by the Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs). With this, the panel intend to cut down on the burning of wood or any other kind of biomass to battle the harsh winters in the national capital. This is a common practice that has been going on for years.

The advisory read, “The uncontrolled burning of mixed solid waste and biomass is a major, consistent source of air pollution, particularly during the winter. This not only harms air quality but also poses significant health risks.” 

The commission also pointed out that the performance under the previous advisory issue under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage-II has been anything but satisfactory. The many RWAs have failed to give heed to this advisory of the panel regarding the electric heater, due to which the biomass burning for heating continued.