NEW DELHI: The commission for management of air quality in NCR and adjoining areas on Wednesday informed the Supreme Court that it has permitted resumption of milk and dairy units in NCR but would decide on December 17 whether to permit reopening of schools and restarting of construction activities.
In an affidavit, the commission said it is examining the representations of project proponents and builders associations as also by association of schools/educational institutions and “a decision on these would also be taken on or before December 17 based on the impact of the relaxations.”
However, it said that it has permitted 24x7 resumption of milk and dairy processing units and pharmaceutical industries in NCR. “Industries related to paper and pulp processing, distilleries and captive thermal power plants shall be permitted to schedule their operations (without any restrictions on number of hours per day) only for five days per week, that is, from Monday to Friday and shall remain closed on Saturdays and Sundays,” it said.
Industries related to paddy/rice processing shall also be operating five days a week but remain closed on Mondays and Tuesday. Similar five-day a week operation was permitted for industries related to textiles, garments and apparels including dyeing processes, which will remain closed on Thursdays and Fridays. “Those industries/units which were closed on account of non-switching to PNG, have been given relaxation to operate for a restricted period of eight hours only from Monday to Friday and shall observe complete closure over the weekend,” it said.
It informed the SC about its deliberations with the power ministry on restricting operation of thermal power stations, six out of 11 of which are closed in the vicinity of NCR. “Based on a detailed review and technical deliberations with the ministry of power, with the power demand peaking up in wake of extreme winter conditions setting in, the power plants have been accordingly permitted to schedule operations, based on power demand and respective merit order despatches. It has, however, been advised to endeavour to run the thermal power plants to bare minimum requirements,” it said.
The commission said it continued to exercise restraint on the entry of trucks to Delhi except for those running on CNG/electric and those carrying essential commodities.
