EPCA withdraws parking fee hike, ban on truck entry, construction in Delhi

Environment Pollution Control and Prevention Authority on Thursday withdrew tougher anti-pollution measures like the ban on constructions, entry of trucks and four-fold hike in parking fees even as the air quality steadily improved.

Other GRAP measures like a ban on diesel generators, hot mix plants, stone crushers and brick kilns, however, continue to remain in place.

The SMDC and the other two municipal corporations the North Delhi Municipal Corporation and the East Delhi Municipal Corporation had effected a four-time hike in the fees from November 9, following the order by Lt Governor Anil Baijal in view of the high-level of pollution in the city.

"We have written to the government to take up an aerial sprinkling of water from towering buildings, as we have those structures under our jurisdiction. And, also on measures to be taken from garbage removal from the streets.

"This hike was for a week-long period only as mentioned in the previous SDMC order. So, from November 16, the old rates will apply for the parking fees," a senior SDMC official said.

From 354 on November 6, the air quality index reached 448 in "severe" on Tuesday, November 7. On November 8, it reached 478; it touched 486 on November 9; 468 on November 10; 403 on November 11; and 460 on the 12th and 13th. On November 14, the AQI came down substantially to 308, while on the 15th, it was 361.

The NDMC runs 104 parking lots while the EDMC has over 40 under its jurisdiction.

The revised rates for cars were Rs 80 per hour and Rs 400 for 24 hours, according to the SDMC order. For two-wheelers, it would be Rs 40 per hour and 24 hours.

OneIndia News