The minister also appealed to people especially children not to burst firecrackers this Diwali.
With Diwali and winter round the corner, the Centre today decided to set up a control room to undertake daily review of pollution level and monitor air quality in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR).
Noting that the recent 15-day long smog in Singapore was a warning to all cities including Delhi to become more serious about the issue, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the control room will be set up at the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
To bring in more accountability, he said his Ministry will soon issue directions under Section 18 of Air Act to improve the air quality in Delhi and NCR.
The minister also appealed to people especially children not to burst firecrackers this Diwali.
"The Government will immediately set up a Control Room in CPCB to undertake a daily review of levels of air pollution and monitor air quality in Delhi and NCR. Directions will be issued shortly under Section 18 of Air Act to improve the air quality in Delhi and NCR," Mr Javadekar said.
He said this after holding a review meeting with Environment Ministers and officials of Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab regarding the one-year action plan to curb air pollution.
He said the latest problem being faced by Delhi airshed was stubble burning which along with the advent of winter will lead to increase in air pollution. "The Singapore haze problem has given a warning to all cities to become more serious."
"To create accountability, we have decided to issue directions under section 18 of Air Act. This will strengthen the hands of all the agencies involved and will also give a legal force to them," he said.
Appealing to citizens, especially children, to "say no to firecrackers" this Diwali, Mr Javadekar said, "I am convinced that children are the best ambassadors. When they say no to firecrackers, there will be no firecrackers. Already there is a decrease in it."
During the meeting various measures were suggested to reduce and eliminate stubble burning, including viable alternatives to discourage stubble burning, imposing a ban and providing subsidies on bail machines.
The Minister also said that a group has been started on WhatsApp through which citizens can send messages and alert authorities whenever they find stubble or wastes being burnt.