National desk
23 September
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
A high-level meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) today stressed the urgent need to adopt electric vehicles (EVs) and enhance charging infrastructure in the National Capital Region (NCR) to address rising air pollution. Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, PK Mishra, chaired the task force meeting, urging swift implementation of the Phased Response Action Plan (GRP), an anti-pollution measure typically enforced during winter.
The meeting involved key officials, including the Chief Secretaries of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi, as well as representatives from the Central and State Pollution Control Boards. Mishra directed Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to rigorously implement measures to prevent stubble burning, a major contributor to air pollution during harvest seasons. He emphasized the full utilization of crop residue management machinery and urged assistance for small-scale industries to use stubble effectively.
In addition to stubble management, Mishra highlighted the importance of transitioning to electric vehicles, particularly in the NCR, to reduce vehicular emissions. He called for a rapid expansion of EV charging infrastructure and encouraged states to increase their fleet of electric buses under the ‘PME-Bus Seva’ scheme, which aims to introduce 10,000 e-buses across the country.
Mishra’s directives focused on ensuring timely and coordinated efforts from all concerned agencies to address air pollution, particularly during the winter months when pollution levels typically spike. The meeting underscored the need for collaboration between central and state governments, as well as strict enforcement of pollution control measures, to protect public health and the environment.