Action Against Crop Residue Burning: Campaign Launched to Improve Air Quality in Bhopal

Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh: In a crucial meeting held at the Commissioner’s office, Commissioner Sanjeev Singh emphasized the need for coordinated efforts among various departments to tackle the rising levels of air pollution in Bhopal. Officials from the district administration, municipal corporation, traffic police, RTO, and the Pollution Control Board attended the meeting. Singh directed these departments to launch a comprehensive campaign to improve the city’s air quality.

The Commissioner instructed the RTO and traffic police to take stringent action against unfit vehicles and to ensure regular inspections by Pollution Under Control (PUC) units, issuing certificates accordingly. He also suggested that the Pollution Control Board review the quarterly Air Quality Index (AQI) reports and monitor hot spot areas. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, Bhopal recorded an average AQI level of 131 yesterday, categorized as moderate, which is concerning.

Action Against Illegal Fuel Use and Crop Residue Burning

During the meeting, Singh directed officials from the Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department to prevent the use of unauthorized fuel in commercial activities, such as restaurants and hotels. He stressed the importance of raising awareness about the use of LPG. Additionally, he called for action against crop residue burning post-harvest, instructing agricultural extension officers to educate farmers about its harmful effects.

The Commissioner also directed the municipal commissioner to carry out watering and cleaning in dust-prone areas. He highlighted the need to prohibit the practice of burning waste at night and to increase awareness regarding this issue. The RTO was advised to move PUC monitoring online and expand the scope of inspections. Furthermore, the Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board was instructed to run campaigns against polluting industries and to categorize them accordingly.

Steps to Improve Air Quality in Bhopal

A study conducted by Messrs ARI Pune identified the main polluting factors affecting the air quality in Bhopal, including road dust and traffic emissions. The report noted that road dust accounts for 62.2% of PM10 and 38% of PM2.5.

In response to the urgent need for air quality improvement, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation has initiated a 100-day special campaign that includes watering to suppress dust and the use of mechanical street cleaning machines. As part of this campaign, 85 fountains will be established at various locations, and all waste collection vehicles will undergo PUC checks.