Delhi’s solely smog tower is positioned in Connaught Place
New Delhi:
With the ruling Aam Aadmi Occasion (AAP) authorities coming within the line of Opposition hearth amid runaway air pollution within the nationwide capital, Delhi Surroundings Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday stated he has ordered the resumption of the functioning of town’s solely smog tower at Connaught Place.
The smog tower stopped working after the personnel answerable for its operation ‘locked it’ because of non-payment of their salaries for December 2023 and no written ‘job assure’ from the Delhi authorities.
“There have been some points reminiscent of non-payment of wages to staff due to which the smog tower was rendered non-functional. Nevertheless, complying with the Supreme Courtroom, I’ve now directed the tower to be made useful once more,” the Delhi Surroundings Minister instructed reporters on Tuesday.
Earlier, on Monday, Gopal Rai wrote to the principal secretary of Surroundings, directing the latter to launch excellent funds to personnel working on the smog tower.
“Smog Tower at Connaught Place, Delhi, was put in by DPC on the instructions of the’ Hon’ble Supreme Courtroom within the matter titled MC. Mehta vs. Union of India in 2020 and began operations in August 2021. It was conceived as a scientific R&D challenge, amongst an array of options, to assist deal with the seasonal air pollution drawback in Delhi. For easy operations of the challenge, an MOU was entered between DPC, NBCC and TATA Tasks,” Gopal Rai wrote.
“The operation of the Smog Tower was earlier arbitrarily stopped by the DPCC Chairman in August 2023 by stopping the discharge of O&M funds for the second 12 months. The stated motion was taken suo moto by the DPCC Chairman in contravention of the choice of the Council of Ministers. GNCTD. The actions of the DPCC Chairman additionally made the Authorities NCTD liable to be charged for the contempt of the Hon’ble Supreme Courtroom, as was identified within the observe of the undersigned dated October 27, 2023, to the Hon’ble Chief Minister. Ultimately, the Smog Tower was restarted after the intervention of the Hon’ble Supreme Courtroom in November 2023,” the AAP chief added in his letter.
“Now, it has come to my discover via numerous newspapers that engaged on Smog Tower has been once more stopped by the employees because of non-payment of salaries for the final two months. That is the negligence of duties by DPCC that was directed by the Hon’ble Supreme Courtroom as not too long ago as November 2023 to make sure the continued operation of the Smog Tower and likewise quantities to direct contempt of court docket. Additionally it is very regarding that the shutting down of the smog tower is going down at a time when air air pollution continues to be within the ‘very poor’ class within the NCT of Delhi,” it added.
(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)