Traffic management and pollution at east Delhi’s Anand Vihar and Kaushambi, where terminals for buses, the Delhi Metro and railways converge, were discussed at a meeting chaired by Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal at the Raj Niwas on Thursday.
Convened by the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA), the meeting was attended by Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot; Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash; EPCA chairman Bhure Lal; Transport Commissioner; Managing Director, Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC); Chairman-cum-CEO Noida; Principal Secretary (Transport), Uttar Pradesh; Delhi Transport Commissioner; and Sunita Narain, director-general, Centre for Science and Environment, in addition to representatives from other government departments.
According to the Raj Niwas, Dr. Lal made a presentation highlighting issues, including traffic congestion, sanitation and hygiene, overcrowding of terminals.
“The L-G was informed that Anand Vihar is surrounded by the Sahibabad and Patparganj industrial areas, which are using non-approved fuels for running industries and burning garbage in their industrial areas,” Raj Niwas said in a statement.
The L-G advised the Environment Department, Delhi Pollution Control Committee and other agencies concerned to devise a mechanism for door-to-door checking and patrolling in these areas for better enforcement of non-usage of non-permitted fuels.
Need for urinals
The EPCA chairman told Mr. Baijal about the need for setting up urinals by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) at Kaushambi for better hygiene and preventing open defecation, to which the L-G responded by directing the DMRC to carry out the work in a time-bound manner. “He also highlighted the need to fully pave the bus terminal at Anand Vihar, regarding which the L-G directed the East Delhi Municipal Corporation Commissioner and the Public Works Department to carry out the remaining paving work so as to minimise dust pollution around the bus terminal,” the Raj Niwas said further.
The EPCA chairman also mentioned that the Traffic Police should notify these areas as no-parking zones on the main roads to ensure that buses and three-wheelers do not remain parked there, causing a lot of traffic congestion and inconvenience.
Mr. Baijal directed that the possibility of a multi-modal integration system, headed by a single agency, be explored for better traffic management.
“Dr. Lal also raised the issue of industries running in Badli, Bawana, Narela and DTU areas, which are causing air pollution. It was informed that most of these industries are burning waste and there are approximately 10,000 rubber units which are in operation and need to be checked,” said the Raj Niwas. The L-G was also informed about problems at Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar, which is in a bad condition as there are no pavements. In response, Mr. Baijal instructed the North Delhi Municipal Corporation Commissioner to visit the area and ensure that pavements and carpeting of roads is taken up at the earliest.
Source: http://www.thehindu.com/