Pilot dust-control project in Chandigarh to see road washing with treated water
To strengthen enforcement, joint teams of CPCC, the traffic police, and the Transport Department will carry out vehicle emission checks, covering both government and commercial fleets
3 min read
The Municipal Corporation (MC) was asked to expedite pending proposals for an Integrated Traffic Management System in consultation with the traffic police and for installing air pollution control devices at crematoriums (Representational/File Photo)A pilot project aimed at reducing dust pollution on one of Chandigarh’s dust-prone corridors will soon be launched, featuring road washing with treated water, mechanised sweeping, and shoulder cleaning. The Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) will closely monitor PM10 levels during the initiative and submit recommendations for scaling it up across the city.
The decision was taken during the 10th meeting of the Air Quality Monitoring Committee (AQMC), held under the chairmanship of Saurabh Kumar, director, Environment, Chandigarh Administration.
The meeting reviewed the preparedness of various stakeholder departments for the upcoming winter and festive season, a period when the city’s air quality typically deteriorates to “poor” and “severe” levels. Kumar expressed concern over the slow pace of implementing earlier directives and stressed the need for urgent and coordinated action under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP).
The Municipal Corporation (MC) was asked to expedite pending proposals for an Integrated Traffic Management System in consultation with the traffic police and for installing air pollution control devices at crematoriums. Alongside, the Municipal Corporation and the Department of Forests and Wildlife were tasked with identifying sites for high-density Miyawaki plantations and creating a green buffer of thick vegetation around the city’s dumping ground to reduce its environmental and visual impact.
The chairman directed that NCAP funds allocated for 2024–2025 must be fully utilised by September 30, failing which the next year’s allocation will be withheld. The MC, which has received Rs 7.92 crore each in the past two financial years, was asked to fast-track its projects and submit utilisation certificates within five working days.
To strengthen enforcement, joint teams of CPCC, the traffic police, and the Transport Department will carry out vehicle emission checks, covering both government and commercial fleets. Strict implementation of the firecracker ban during the festive season and rigorous compliance with the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Policy, 2022, were also ordered. Meanwhile, the traffic police will prepare a comprehensive festive-season traffic management plan, and the State Transport Authority will conduct special audits of Pollution Under Control (PUC) centres.
The CPCC also issued directions under Section 31-A of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, to several institutions and agencies — including PGIMER, Panjab University, PEC, the Railways, Steel Authority of India, Tata Steels, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited, and Verma Transport Company — requiring them to adopt precautionary measures such as dust suppression at stockyards, covering loose soil with vegetation, and effective use of anti-smog guns and sprinklers. Non-compliance will attract environmental compensation and punitive action.
The meeting concluded with a call for a citywide awareness campaign. Departments were asked to prepare Information, Education and Communication plans within 15 days, targeting schools, resident welfare associations, markets, transporters, and builders through radio jingles, street plays, workshops, and outreach drives.
“Clean air cannot be achieved through seasonal responses. What we need is year-round, sustained commitment with strong community engagement and administrative accountability,” Kumar, while directing departments to submit monthly compliance reports to the CPCC, said.
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