Ahead of Diwali, Delhi govt gears up to tackle pollution
NEW DELHI: With Diwali coming in less than two months, the Delhi government and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee have initiated various steps to control pollution. Starting with mega plantation drive, the government this year has come with more pollution monitoring centres and is using various equipment to deal with pollution.
"We are strengthening the pollution monitoring machinery and the minister will chair a meeting where he will review the preparation of plantation drive and other issues," said an official.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal directed officials to geo-tag plants and monitor their survival rate under the government's mega plantation drive in September. Kejriwal also directed officials to launch a massive awareness campaign for mass public participation in the drive, according to an official statement. Agencies participating in the drive include Forest Department, Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCDs), North Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Education, Health, Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Public Works Department (PWD) and Delhi Jal Board (DJB) who briefed the chief minister on the progress, according to the statement.
The Chief Minister directed that a helpline is created for the event and publicised for people to call and check the nearest location for participation. He also directed that various clubs should also be involved in the drive to make participation better.
"The government this year also used various new equipment when needed. The Delhi government already has various plans to deal with the pollution. We will also take help from the experts and the green bodies in Delhi," said an official.
This year, the CPCB data showed that over a four-day period in June, there was a significant spike in particulate matter compared to previous years, owing to dust storms from Western India that originated farther away in Oman. On June 13, for instance, the PM10 concentrations touched 835 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3), while PM2.5 touched 282 µg/m3.
The initiatives like studying the possibility of using technology to ascertain the source of air pollution at designated spots in collaboration with the University of Washington, developing a model for forecasting of air pollution scenario and setting up 1,000 indoor display panels inside all government buildings dealing with the public to display information on air pollution levels are already going on.
In the first of its kind "green budget", the Delhi government listed out 26 steps which also included procuring 1,000 electric buses, the introduction of 905 feeder electric buses meant for last mile connectivity from Metro stations and expansion of eligibility criteria for an e-rickshaw subsidy that have also figured in the budgets of past governments.
