Ban on open burning and tandoor, Rs 5000 fine as Delhi chokes on very poor air

New Delhi: With the national capital once again gasping under a blanket of hazardous smog, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta unveiled a decisive crackdown on key sources of air pollution. Effective immediately, authorities have been directed to enforce a complete prohibition on all open burning activities.  The ban also includes a strict ban on the use of coal and firewood in tandoors across Delhi hotels, restaurants, and outdoor eateries.

The urgent measures come as the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) has consistently hovered in the 'very poor' category for several days. The deteriorating air quality has triggered widespread health concerns among residents. While a slight reprieve saw the AQI improve to 'poor' at 291 on Tuesday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board, the overall air quality remains critically hazardous.

Chief Minister Gupta took to social media, tweeting a plea to citizens, "We humbly request all citizens not to burn waste in the open. Your small cooperation can bring about a big change."

To highlight the severity of the issue, she announced that the district administration and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) are empowered to levy fines of up to Rs 5,000 on anyone caught burning garbage in the open.

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) formally issued the tandoor ban under Section 31(A) of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. The regulatory body highlighted that traditional coal-based cooking methods contribute significantly to localised air pollution, exacerbating the city's overall environmental woes. These prohibitions are mandated as Stage-I actions within the broader Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), designed to curb emissions when air quality deteriorates.

Monitoring and enforcement will be robust, with urban local bodies instructed to conduct thorough checks to ensure the immediate discontinuation of coal and firewood usage in commercial kitchens. The move comes amid the efforts to improve respiratory health and visibility as the city battles its perennial winter pollution crisis, with Wednesday morning's AQI readings still reflecting alarmingly high levels across various locations. The air quality was recorded as very poor at Bawana (283), Alipur (264), Jahangirpuri (313), Burari Crossing (272), Punjabi Bagh (280), and Anand Vihar (298), among others.