Keeping with the practice over the past many years, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday unveiled the ‘Winter Action Plan’ from October to December with a strong emphasis on addressing dust pollution, vehicular emissions and the open burning of garbage to tackle air pollution.
Addressing a Press conference, Kejriwal said the Delhi Government has identified 13 hotspots namely Anand Vihar, Mundka, Wazirpur, Jahangirpuri, R K Puram, Rohini, Punjabi Bagh, Okhla, Bawana, Vivek Vihar, Narela, Ashok Vihar and Dwarka for control of pollution from hotspots.
Further, the Chief Minister said to prevent stubble burning, bio-decomposers will be applied in the fields in Delhi. Citing data from last year, the Chief Minister said that there has been a 30 per cent reduction in stubble burning in areas around Delhi.
Taking a dig at the Kejriwal government’s winter action plan, the Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva termed it a “copy-paste” job while the Leader of Opposition In Delhi Assembly, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri called it an eye wash, nothing else. Almost two months from now, the national capital of the country is likely to be engulfed in thick smog, as the trend has shown over the past few years with the onset of winter months and post Diwali celebrations
The winter action plan primarily focuses on preventing crop residue burning, dust pollution, vehicular and industrial emissions, open burning of garbage, regulating firecrackers, tree planting, ensuring effective implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), managing e-waste and fostering collaboration with neighbouring states, Kejriwal said. Thirteen teams have been formed to implement these action plans at the identified air pollution hotspots.
“To combat crop residue burning, the Delhi government successfully implemented a free bio-decomposer technique in the past three years, which has yielded positive results. Last year, we treated 4,400 acres of farmland with the bio-decomposer method. This year, we will use it on 5,000 acres of both Basmati and non-Basmati rice fields, all free of cost,” Kejriwal said.
The chief minister also announced an anti-dust campaign from October 9. It includes measures such as the installation of dust control equipment at all sites exceeding 500 square metres, with real-time monitoring available through a web portal.
Kejriwal shared that 591 teams have been set up to ensure strict compliance with dust control norms, with 530 water sprinklers and 258 mobile anti-smog guns deployed to combat dust pollution.
To tackle vehicular pollution, 385 teams have been formed to check Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates and enforce the ban on 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles. The city government has identified 90 congested roads where teams will be deployed to manage traffic and inform commuters of alternative routes.
The government will also deploy 611 teams to prevent the open burning of waste. An additional 66 teams will ensure that industrial units do not use unauthorised or non-compliant fuels.
Starting from October 3, a “Green War Room” will be operational 24x7 to monitor environmental indicators. A nine-member expert team has been assigned to analyse reports and plan future actions based on the gathered data.
This year, Delhi has set a target to plant 52 lakh trees and plants under the tree planting campaign. In the first phase, about 75 per cent, or 39.48 lakh trees and plants, have already been planted. The second phase of will commence on October 15. Additionally, the New Delhi Municipal Council aims to plant 50 lakh trees, he added.
The Chief Minister announced that e-waste generated in Delhi will be collected and processed in 20 identified zones. After proper disposal, all electronic waste in Delhi will be scientifically processed. The Delhi Government will also organise a “Run Against Pollution” to raise environmental awareness among the people and campaigns to check vehicular pollution and the burning of firecrackers.
The BJP, however, blasted the Kejriwal government over the action plan, calling it a “copy-paste” job. Delhi BJP preisdent Virendra Sachdeva, said, “Arvind Kejriwal’s winter action plan is just a show. Kejriwal did not do anything about pollution control.
