Come this winter, citizens of the national Capital can experience relief from the notorious air pollution that plagues Delhi, especially during the winter months, with a range of measures, including drone monitoring, an intensified anti-dust campaign, road-sweeping machines, and the deployment of 200 mobile anti-smog guns among others.
Emphasising collaboration between the Government and residents to combat Delhi’s seasonal pollution spike, State Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday launched the city’s Winter Action Plan which also includes a special task force, penalties for dust violations, a ban on firecrackers, and public awareness initiatives.
The Government has formed a six-member task force consisting of representatives from key departments, including transport, environment, revenue, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and the traffic police. Under the theme “Mil Kar Chale, Pradushan Se Lade”, drone monitoring will be used for the first time to track pollution hotspots in real-time in a bid to ensure more precise and targeted interventions.
Starting from October 7, the anti-dust campaign will be rolled out, targeting construction sites larger than 500 square meters, which must register on a designated website. Strict penalties will be imposed on violators who contribute to dust pollution. Additionally, the city will deploy 85 road-sweeping machines and 500 water-sprinkling vehicles to control road dust, one of the major contributors to air pollution.
In the plan, public awareness campaigns will play a crucial role in the plan with initiatives like the “Harit Padyatra,” where participants will walk with plants on their heads to raise awareness about greenery, and the “Red Light On, Gadi Off” campaign, aimed at curbing vehicular emissions, will be part of this effort. An electric vehicle parade and an anti-pollution march are also planned to encourage people to adopt more sustainable practices.
As part of efforts to control air pollution during the winter, the Government will increase the use of mobile anti-smog guns, which will now be deployed three times a day, compared to once daily last year. The ban on firecrackers, introduced in previous years, will continue this year.
The city’s Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) will also be activated to implement emergency measures when air quality deteriorates. The Government has formed 588 teams to prevent the open burning of garbage, another significant source of winter pollution.
Rai also highlighted the improved air quality in Delhi over recent years, noting that the number of polluted days had decreased from 243 in 2016 to 159 in 2022, representing a 34.6 percent reduction. However, he acknowledged that pollution from neighbouring states, particularly stubble burning, remains a challenge.
To combat stubble burning, which significantly worsens air quality during the winter months, bio-decomposers will be sprayed across 5,000 acres of farmland to minimise its impact. Additionally, a 360-member team has been established to monitor vehicle emissions and ensure that older vehicles comply with emission standards.
The Minister emphasised that, if necessary, the city could reintroduce the odd-even vehicle rationing scheme to reduce traffic emissions. The Government is also exploring the possibility of inducing artificial rain to clear pollutants from the air during critical periods of high pollution.
The Winter Action Plan also aims to incentivise efforts to reduce pollution by introducing the “Harit Ratan Award,” which will recognise individuals, organisations, or Government departments that make significant contributions to pollution control.
