Delhi govt resorts to 'artificial rain' at ITO to check pollution

NEW DELHI: As part of the one-year short-term plan to tackle the air pollution in the Capital, the Delhi government started artificial rain in the city on Wednesday to combat the air pollution.

"The first day we have planned the artificial rain at the ITO crossing. If we get success, then this process will be continued at various points of the city," said an official.

He explained that till the Pawan Hans is ready with all the necessary equipment, the government will sprinkle water from high rise buildings.

Under attack from the Opposition for not spending a single penny in 2017 out of the Rs 787 crore collected as environment cess, the Delhi government on Wednesday said it has prepared a one-year short-term plan to tackle air pollution, an official said.

A Delhi government official said Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had held a meeting with officials on Tuesday evening and directed that the environmental cess and environmental ambient air fund be used for procurement of buses.

Earlier, the official said, Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gehlot had also met officials of Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System Ltd (DIMTS) over the issue.

The official said that the government will also buy 500 electric buses with the fund, adding that the government plans to procure buses of two different sizes – standard and medium.

A standard size bus costs Rs 2.6 crore, while the medium size bus comes at Rs 1.6 crore.

Sources also said government has appointed a team of environmental scientists who have helped them to make this plan. Officials stated that the government has taken help from the GRAP of the EPCA to formulating its plan.

"Our focus is to reduce vehicular and dust pollution," said the official.

Sources also said that this plan will look at the pollution from the industries and thermal power plant.