#RealtyNewsRoundUp: NGT Asks Delhi, 4 Neighbouring States To Submit Action Plan On Air Pollution

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Delhi government and four neighbouring states to submit a comprehensive action plan on ways to deal with the severe air pollution. An NGT Bench headed by Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar ordered governments of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan should submit their plan before December 4.

Meanwhile, the NGT, which is looking into the issue of alternative landfill sites, had ordered the inspection of land at Ranikhera near the Delhi-Haryana border which was earmarked for dumping waste. Till now, the site is not being used by the authorities to dump waste.

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The environment ministry is open to reviewing the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) guidelines, one of its top officials has said. Environment Ministry Additional Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta said the ministry was also considering allowing "sustainable" and "responsible" tourism activities in the natural heritage zones, many of which were in the coastal regions.

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The Delhi government has directed all resident welfare associations (RWAs) to provide electric heaters to night security guards, and ensure that they are not forced to burn coal or wood to keep warm during chilly nights. Such open burning leads to emission of particulate matter which is readily trapped near the surface, especially during the winter months, due to a number of factors such as low temperature, high moisture and lack of winds.

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Housing Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has appreciated the Telangana government's double-bedroom houses scheme, meant for the poor. The minister said that the scheme was a revolutionary step that would help make Hyderabad slum-free. A single unit of such double-bedroom houses built by the state costs Rs 30 lakh in the open market.

 Source: Media reports