Kolkata: The state government is all set to implement the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in all six non-attainment cities, including Kolkata, in Bengal to minimize the impact of air pollution on health. The decision was taken at a meeting on emergency restrictive measures for air pollution control held at the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) headquarters on Monday.
According to a Times of India report, a senior police official who attended the meeting stated that this will involve highly coordinated and concerted efforts to contain air pollution and its impact on citizens' health. Based on the Air Quality Index (AQI), the alert will suggest appropriate actions. For instance, manual sweeping might be replaced by mechanical sweeping. If the AQI rises significantly, construction work may be halted temporarily.
The report also noted that a senior official mentioned that if pollution levels become critically high, schools might be closed to protect students from the adverse effects of pollutants. The West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) and Kolkata Police will jointly develop a system to penalise vehicle owners based on complaints lodged by citizens if their vehicles are found emitting smoke.
According to Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, who chaired the meeting at KMC to discuss measures to curb air pollution in Kolkata, the PCB will collaborate with the traffic wing of Kolkata Police to devise a plan allowing citizens to report polluting vehicles using a dedicated helpline, the report added.
During the meeting, PCB officials proposed stricter controls on highly polluting "Vano" cars that run on adulterated fuels. Hakim said, "We need to restrict such cars, which are major contributors to air pollution in the city and its outskirts," as quoted by TOI.
The report also mentioned that regarding the burning of leaves during winter, the mayor instructed police and KMC officials to monitor areas from where the maximum complaints are being reported to the civic headquarters. Hakim urged the PCB to take strict action against manufacturers of single-use plastics.
Hakim further stated, "We have asked the PCB to set up infrastructure that will enable it to track down factories that are secretly producing banned plastic carry bags," as quoted by TOI.