New Delhi: In a move that may help farmers 'water down' stubble burning practices, Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan on Monday unveiled the Air Quality Early Warning System to combat air pollution in the Delhi-National Capital Region.
The system has been launched on a pilot project basis and, upon its success, would be launched in all 102 most-polluted cities listed under the National Clean Air Programme.
According to the Minister, the system would help in predicting extreme air pollution levels, which would help all the stakeholders in taking preventive measures to control air pollution.
Speaking on the occasion, Vardhan said that with early information on bad air quality, people can be educated to get well prepared in advance.
"There has been a decrease in detection of fire incidents as per satellite mapping in Haryana and Punjab. Instructions have also been issued to monitor stubble burning in these areas on priority," he said.
Vardhan added that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is pro-actively doing research in adjoining areas and sending reports of affected places to the concerned department.
"Things are improving as compared to last year's air quality in Delhi region," the minister said.
The system will have an in-built web-based dissemination tool to inform public and enforcement agencies about episodic high pollution events in advance. Such information may be helpful for the general public in planning their outdoor activities.
"The system would also make it easier for government's pollution watchdogs to alert stakeholders and the general ublic about air quality 48 hours in advance. The move would give them adequate time to take precautionary measures," the minister said.
The warning system has been jointly developed by scientists of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune, National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting in Noida and India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Present on the occasion, Environment Secretary CK Mishra said, "Steps are being taken to reduce emission from vehicles. The eastern peripheral highway is helping a lot in controlling air pollution."