Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Wednesday wrote to the Chief Minister Atishi regarding the deteriorating Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national Capital asking to ‘first set our house in order before blaming others or asking for their help’.
In the letter, Saxen stated, “In addition to this, a large component of about 25 per cent of air pollution is caused due to vehicular emission. Solid waste burning accounts for 8 per cent and bio-mass burning in other states accounts for 26 per cent, the 5 per cent being on account of miscellaneous factors like Chulhas, Tandoors and Generators etc.”
The letter read, “The above figures suggest that while we may have little control over 26 per cent of the causative factors, the remaining 74 per cent are well within our control and could have been addressed effectively at a minimum cost by undertaking simple steps, had the government intended to.”
It added that while he is conscious of the fact that smoke coming from neighbouring states especially those to the north is worsening the situation in Delhi and if need be, he will again request them to help. “However, it will only be appropriate that we first set our house in order before blaming others or asking for their help,” he said.
He also said that AQI in the city is approaching 400. “The pathetic state of pollution in the Yamuna, as we approach the holy Chhath Puja is doing rounds all over TV channels and social media,” the letter read.
Saxena mentioned that in a recent meeting with the representatives of CAQM along with officers, he had advised Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to start an exercise of collecting dust from roads, lanes and open dumping sites and disposing of it on a war-footing.
“The results were very encouraging. In just about a fortnight, MCD was able to remove more than 15,000 MT of dried-up silt, malba and C&D waste. Undoubtedly where there is a will, there is a way,” he claimed, adding that he has also suggested that rotating water sprinkling anti-smog guns be placed over all buildings above seven storeys, based on his successful experience at Civic Centre, to this effect last year.
“You would be aware that efforts were undertaken personally by me at the behest of the National Green Tribunal to ensure measures that effectively addressed pollution-causing municipal waste issues and rejuvenating the Yamuna,” he said.
The LG claimed that while municipal waste was being processed at a rate of 1.41 lakh MT per month before July 2022, it increased to over six lakh MT per month. “BOD and COD levels in the Yamuna started showing a decreasing trend in just five months. However, the government headed by your predecessor chose to get these efforts stalled through judicial interventions,” he alleged.
Stating that Delhi is much more than the spruced up and sanitized localities and would request all in positions of power - Ministers, policymakers and officers, to come out and see for themselves how simple and easy it is to fix such issues.
