<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">In a major step towards tackling air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region, Haryana Chief Secretary Mr. Sanjeev Kaushal today disclosed the State's action plan for the year 2024-25. The plan focuses on transitioning the State's bus fleet to cleaner alternatives, including electric, CNG, and BS-VI diesel buses.</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"> </p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">Mr. Kaushal shared this information after participating in a virtual meeting convened by the Union Cabinet Secretary on air quality management in Delhi and the NCR region. He added that State Transport Haryana has finalised the procurement of 375 e-buses  in nine Municipal Corporation cities of the State. The Chief Secretary assured that all these e-buses would come by June 2024. He also mentioned the procurement of 200 e-buses through the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs initiated for induction in the fleet of Gurugram and Faridabad, expected to be completed by December 2024.</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"> </p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;">The Chief Secretary said Haryana State Transport plans to add 500 new Standard diesel buses and 150 HVAC diesel buses meeting the latest BS-VI emission norms  by November 2024. He emphasised that only BS-VI compliant buses will be in operation by all depots of Haryana destined for Delhi. All BS-III compliant buses will be phased out from NCR depots before October 2024. He said that to address vehicular emissions, approximately 10 lakh vehicles have been colour-coded in NCR districts to date.</p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></p>''<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;">Mr. Kaushal informed that 18 Dust Control and Management Cells have been constituted by various departments in NCR. He said, additionally the Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has successfully launched a web portal for Dust Pollution Control Self-Assessment, facilitating the registration of construction projects on plots exceeding 500 square metres in the NCR. Mr Kaushal emphasised the Haryana Government's proactive stance on stubble management, noting the establishment of paddy straw-based 2G ethanol plant by Indian Oil Corporation Limited at Baholi in Panipat. </span></p>