Delhi pollution: 4-time hike in parking fee withdrawn; ban on entry of trucks, construction work lifted
The parking fees in areas falling under the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, which were quadrupled a week ago, will now be restored to the previous rates from Thursday, the civic body had said on Wednesday.
In Short
- EPCA issued directions withdrawing the four-time hike in parking fees.
- The authority has also removed ban on entry of trucks or construction works.
- Parking fees SDMC areas will be restored to the previous rates from Thursday.
The Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) today issued directions withdrawing the four-time hike in parking fees and removing the ban on the entry of trucks or construction works in Delhi, which were imposed last week in the wake of toxic smog that had enveloped the city and its suburbs.
The parking fees in areas falling under the South Delhi Municipal Corporation, which were quadrupled a week ago, will now be restored to the previous rates from Thursday, the civic body had said on Wednesday.
"As of today, November 16 at 8 am, 48 hours have lapsed since NCR and Delhi have seen improvement in air quality and the region is now in 'very poor' category in terms of Air Quality Index (AQI)," Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) mentioned in a two-page letter to the chief secretary of Delhi.
The SMDC and two other 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.The North and East Delhi corporations, however, had said they will continue with the revised rates.
The ban on the entry of trucks in Delhi was earlier imposed by authorities from 11 PM on November 9 after the pollution levels touched 'severe plus' category. The ban had expired at 11 pm on November 12. The ban was extended on Wednesday till further orders due to fluctuating levels of air pollution.
As per the ban, authorities had asked the Delhi Traffic Police and civic bodies to prohibit the entry of heavy and medium goods vehicles, except those carrying essential commodities, in the national capital.
-With inputs from Pooja Shali
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