At a high-level discussion at the Prime Minister’s Office it was highlighted how urgently the NCR region needs to adopt electric vehicles and establish charging infrastructure in order to minimize air pollution.
In order to successfully regulate air quality, P K Mishra, the prime minister’s senior secretary chaired the task force meeting and encouraged all relevant agencies to rigidly and immediately implement the Graded Response Action Plan, a set of anti-pollution measures implemented throughout winter.
Mishra gave stern orders to the chief secretaries of Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh to put action plans into place that reduce stubble burning, ensure that crop residue management equipment is used to its full potential and help small enterprises profitably utilize paddy straw.
He underlined how important it is to convert to electric vehicle and expand the EV charging infrastructure in the NCR. As part of the PM eBus Sewa Scheme, which aims to introduce 10,000 e-buses to the country, Mishra allegedly encouraged states to increase the number of e-buses in their fleets. Mishra also urged state authorities and law enforcement to firmly enforce prohibitions on fireworks.
Attending the conference were high-ranking representatives from several ministries, including the environment, agriculture, power, petroleum, road transportation, housing, and animal husbandry, in addition to the Delhi chief police.
Chief secretaries from the Central and State Pollution Control Boards, as well as those from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi, attended the conference.
