To improve the Air Quality Index _(AQI) of Bhopal, Divisional Commissioner Sanjeev Singh conducted a meeting on Tuesday in the conference hall of the Commissioner’s office. RTO and traffic police have specifically been asked to take appropriate action against unfit vehicles and to ensure continuous checks and issuance of certificates by the Pollution Under Control (PUC) units .The Bhopal Municipal Corporation is launching a special 100-day campaign, during which various activities will be undertaken. On the days of Dhanteras, Chhoti Diwali, and Diwali, special dust suppression measures will be implemented, including water spraying and increased use of mechanical road sweeping machines and fogger machines. Additionally, 85 fountains will be installed at various locations in Bhopal, and all waste collection vehicles will undergo PUC checks. He directed the district administration, municipal corporation, traffic police, RTO, and pollution control board to launch a comprehensive campaign for preventing air pollution in Bhopal. He also directed the pollution control board officials to review the quarterly Air Quality Index reports. Monitoring of hotspot areas should occur in the first week of the third month.

 

A detailed strategy for monitoring polluted hotspots should be developed, including a comprehensive report on causes and resolutions. Continuous comparative assessments should be conducted quarterly. During the review meeting, Singh instructed officials from the district food supply and consumer protection department to take action against unauthorised fuel usage at commercial establishments like restaurants and roadside eateries and to raise awareness about the use of LPG. Singh emphasised that action should also be taken against stubble burning in the fields after harvesting in the district. Previous incidents should be reviewed, and agricultural extension officers should conduct investigations. Farmers should be informed about the harmful consequences of stubble burning, and mechanised assistance such as super seeders and happy seeders should be provided as needed.

 

The Commissioner has directed to conduct regular spraying of water and cleaning in hotspot areas and locations with dust. He instructed to prohibit the practice of lighting bonfires for warming hands by using waste at night, along with extensive awareness and inspections. He also directed the RTO of Bhopal to implement online monitoring of PUC checks and conduct widespread inspections. The Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board was instructed to launch a campaign against air-polluting industries in the city and to categorise all such industries. Notably, recently a study by ARI Pune presented information on the main air pollutants affecting air quality in Bhopal, highlighting that road dust contributes 62.2% to PM10 and 38% to PM2.5, while traffic contributes 13% to PM10 and 29% to PM2.5, and other sources contribute 24.8% to PM10 and 33% to PM2. It was suggested that road construction and maintenance, filling of potholes, monthly PUC checks, removal of unfit vehicles, and fuel purity checks be conducted. Present at the meeting were Municipal Commissioner Harendra Narayan, Chief Engineer of Public Works Department Sanjay Maske, Regional Transport Officer Jitendra Sharma, District Food Supply Controller Meena Malakar, and other relevant officials.