New Delhi, Oct 29 (UNI) In order to ensure cleaner and healthier surroundings for National Highway users and nearby communities, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has taken proactive measures and issued a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to its field offices in Delhi-NCR.
The SOP aims to reduce air pollution caused by highway construction and related activities, an official statement said.
The guidelines outline a systematic approach to address air pollution caused by vehicular emissions, road dust and construction activities. They are applicable to all completed and under-construction highway stretches in Delhi-NCR under the jurisdiction of the NHAI.
The comprehensive SOP provides a detailed framework covering areas such as mitigating pollution on constructed National Highways through the deployment of mechanized road sweeping machines, greening of medians and loop interchanges through regular plantation, implementation of the Miyawaki method for forest creation along the highways, use of tarpaulin sheets to cover construction materials during transportation and regular inspections and maintenance to ensure pothole-free roads and reduce additional dust generation.
The guidelines also include measures for mitigating air pollution at National Highway construction sites, aiming to reduce emissions from construction activities. These measures include the regular use of anti-smog guns, continuous water sprinkling throughout the day at construction locations and covering construction materials with green nets to prevent the spread of airborne particulate matter. In addition, the SOP mandates regular monitoring of air quality indices at project sites and strict compliance with the guidelines issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and the Central and State Pollution Control Boards. The guidelines further promote the use of inert materials and Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste to minimize environmental impact and foster sustainable construction practices.
The SOP defines responsibilities of NHAI field officers as well as authority engineers, contractors and concessionaires for monitoring and ensuring strict compliance by undertaking regular audits and inspections. It also provides directions to organize training and awareness programs for contractors and workers as well as provide redressal to complaints related to NHAI projects on ‘Green Delhi App’.
Recently, a meeting was chaired by Alok Deepankar, Member (Technical), NHAI to review the ongoing efforts and ensure effective on-ground implementation of the SOP. The meeting was attended by senior officials from NHAI field offices in Delhi-NCR along with representatives of contractors and consultants.
NHAI Member (Technical) directed all field officers, contractors and consultants to undertake immediate and decisive measures for controlling dust and vehicular pollution on a war footing. Contractors were also instructed to mobilize adequate manpower, equipment and resources for dust mitigation.
