With air quality in the national capital entering red zone, the authority on Tuesday banned diesel generator and ordered closure of Badarpur thermal power plant. Environment Pollution Prevention and Control (EPCA) chairman Bhure Lal and member Sunita Narain announced the decision following a review meeting.
The air quality may also result in an increase in the parking fee for vehicles by up to four times in the next few days, PTI reported.
Narain said parking fee may have to be hiked in Delhi, despite the fact that a parking policy is still being worked out, if air pollution aggravates further and in case it touches alarming proportions “cars will have to be off the roads”.
The measure, if required, will be enforced under the Graded Response Action Plan, under which a series of measures will be taken based on the severity of air pollution during the winter months.
In an effort to check alarming pollution level, the Supreme Court, earlier this month, slapped a temporary ban on the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR region during Diwali this year, dealing a blow to the traders and businessmen dealing in them.
In Pictures: This is why firecracker sale is banned in Delhi this Diwali
Giving out the order, the apex court maintained that its last month’s order, which lifted the stay and permitted the sale of firecrackers, would come into effective only from November 1, 12 days after the ‘festival of lights’.
(With PTI inputs)