Tarun Kumar Pithode, an IAS officer from the 2009 batch and part of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, has taken on the job of Member‑Secretary for the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region (NCR). Pithode, who previously worked as a Joint Secretary in the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, will lead CAQM for five years, up to September 8 2029, or until further notice. He comes after Arvind Kumar Nautiyal, who held the post for several years.
The move follows a sharp spike in Delhi’s air quality. On October 19, the capital’s daily average Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 296, putting the city in the “Poor” category. In response, CAQM’s sub‑committee launched a 12‑point action plan under Stage‑II of the existing Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), aimed at cutting pollution across the entire NCR.
Earlier, on October 16, the Delhi government rolled out a Winter Action Plan for 2025‑26 to tackle the seasonal surge in air pollution that typically occurs from October to February. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the plan comprises 25 action points spread across seven themes: road dust, vehicular emissions, industry and power, open burning and solid waste, citizen interface and monitoring, and green innovation. The plan will involve more than 30 departments and agencies, including the Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Delhi Sub‑Urban Development Authority (DSIIDC), Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), the transport ministry, Delhi Police, and others.
The minister stressed that the plan must be executed promptly and monitored in real time through a central “Green War Room.” He called for strict compliance, especially during winter, where dust control, construction standards, and enforcement of “Portable Gen‑Pure” (PNG)‑only industrial operations will be prioritized. Agency leaders were told that daily coordination in the Green War Room is essential.
Sir Sirsa also urged citizens to become partners in the fight against air pollution. He told residents to use the Green Delhi App, follow GRAP advisories, and shift to public transport or electric vehicles as the city expands its e‑mobility options. By combining top‑down measures with citizen participation, the Delhi government hopes to bring the city’s AQI back to safer levels.
Source: ianslive
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