New Delhi, November 2: Amid rising concerns over deteriorating air quality in the national capital, a ten-day long clean air campaign has been launched in Delhi and four major cities in the National Capital Region (NCR). The aggressive ten-day long campaign that began on November 1 aims to monitor and report polluting activities as well as to ensure quick action. A total of 52 teams were jointly flagged off by Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change Harsh Vardhan and the Minister from Government of Delhi.

According to an official release, while Delhi has 44 teams the cities in NCR region namely Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad have two teams each. These teams will be visiting different parts of Delhi and adjacent towns of Faridabad, Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Noida. Delhi NCR Pollution: As Air Quality Deteriorates Further, Union Minister Harsh Vardhan Says 'No Chance of Improvement in Next Few Days'. 

The team will comprise of the local Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) as the team leader, a senior official from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and representatives from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). Delhi Air Pollution: Poor Air Quality Index Detected in Lodhi Road Area, PM 10 Drops to 283.

While speaking at the flagging off ceremony Union Minister Harsh Vardhan said that active participation from all concerned agencies will be required to ensure that quick action is taken on the cases of violations reported by field teams. “In case of repeat violations, criminal proceedings against defaulters will also be initiated” added the Union Minister. Private Vehicle Won't be Allowed on Delhi Roads if Air Quality Gets Worse, Warns Pollution Control Board.

The Minister also chaired meeting with State Governments of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, UP and Rajasthan and noted that though the incidents of stubble burning witnessed a reduction of 30 percent from the previous year but overall the steps taken by the State Governments to control stubble burning are far from satisfactory.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 02, 2018 10:42 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).