The Delhi Government's month-long campaign 'Red Light on, Gaadi off' which was set to be launched in the national Capital from Friday, has now been postponed because it has not got approval from the Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) VK Saxena as yet. The campaign was quite successful last year in generating awareness among people regarding cutting down vehicle pollution by switching off the ignition of their vehicles at traffic stops.
Addressing the media, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said, "The file on the campaign was sent to the L-G on October 21. The L-G has the time to write letters to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal daily, but doesn't have the time to sign crucial files. It is very unfortunate that due to the non-signing of the file by the L-G, we have to postpone this important campaign 'Red Light On, Gadi Off' that was due to start tomorrow."
When asked, sources at Raj Niwas alleged that the file was not submitted on time to the L-G's office. "It has received the file only on October 26," sources added. No immediate official reaction was available from the L-G's office.
Rai accused the L-G of doing politics in the matter of signing the file and said that the political fight is in its place but he should not do politics that puts the health of Delhiites at risk.
"He might have no idea that the pollution level is increasing in the national Capital. He is seeing everything on TV and newspapers; he lives in the same city... But he doesn't have the time to sign the file," Rai said.
According to Petroleum Conservation Research Association data, a person unnecessarily burns fuel for 25 to 30 minutes while waiting at traffic signals. If vehicle engines are turned off when the traffic signal is red, then vehicular pollution will be reduced by 15 to 20 per cent, Rai said.
"We run an awareness campaign at 100 intersections in the city in which 2,500 civil defence volunteers tell people about the 'Red Light On, Gaadi Off' campaign through 'Gandhigiri'. This year, we had planned to start this campaign on October 28," he said.
Meanwhile, reacting on the issue, BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said that it would be better if instead of levelling allegations on the L-G the Chief Minister and his Environment Minister cite one scientific research report that says that schemes like ‘Odd Even’ or ‘Red Light On Engine Off’ have helped in reducing winter pollution in Delhi.
"During the last 4 - 5 years citizens of Delhi have experienced that these schemes do not help in curbing pollution but definitely have given the Government an opportunity to distribute exchequer money to its party workers by enrolling them as volunteers," Kapoor alleged.