"One lakh vehicles were checked recently out of which 70,000 vehicles were found to have ip67 breathable membrane valid PUCs. The minister also said that a group has been started on WhatsApp through which citizens can send messages and alert authorities whenever they find stubble or wastes being burntIn Delhi, Mr Javadekar said, Pollution Under Control (PUC) norms were being strictly enforced.He said the latest problem being faced by Delhi airshed was stubble burning which along with the advent of winter will lead to increase in air pollution."The trials for waste to energy plant at Ghazipur have been conducted successfully and the plant will be formally inaugurated soon.

Noting that the recent 15-day long smog in Sing-apore was a warning to all cities, including Delhi, to become more serious about the issue, environment minister Prakash Javadekar said that the control room will be set up at the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)."The government will immediately set up a control room in CPCB to undertake a daily review of levels of air pollution and monitor air quality in Delhi and NCR. When they say no to firecrackers, there will be no firecrackers.He said this after holding a review meeting with environment ministers and officials of Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab regarding the one-year action plan to curb air pollution."During the meeting various measures were suggested to reduce and eliminate stubble burning, including viable alternatives to discourage stubble burning, imposing a ban and providing subsidies on bail machines.

Appealing to citizens, especially children, to "say no to firecrackers" this Diwali, Mr Javadekar said, "I am convinced that children are the best ambassadors. This will strengthen the hands of all the agencies involved and will also give a legal force to them," he said. — PTIWith Diwali and winter round the corner, the Centre on Friday decided to set up a control room to undertake daily review of pollution level and monitor air quality in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR). "The Singapore haze problem has given a warning to all cities to become more serious. The Delhi government has also sent a letter to 2,000 schools and eco-clubs, requesting them to say no to firecrackers and minimise the use of firecrackers on Diwali," an environment ministry statement said.

Directions will be issued shortly under Section 18 of Air Act to improve the air quality in Delhi and NCR," Mr Javadekar said.To bring in more accountability, he said his ministry will soon issue directions under Section 18 of Air Act to improve the air quality in Delhi and NCR.The minister also appealed to people especially children not to burst firecrackers this Diwali.Students of the District Institute of Education and Training display placards as they participate in an awareness campaign on Diwali in Gurgaon on Friday. Already there is a decrease in it. The number of PUC checking points has also been increased," he said.""To create accountability, we have decided to issue directions under section 18 of Air Act