Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday said that in order to curb air pollution the second phase of the anti-dust campaign will be run from November 12 to December 12.
Addressing the media at Delhi Secretariat, Rai said, “To curb instances of open burning in Delhi, we will be launching ‘Anti Open Burning Campaign’ from November 11 to December 11 in the Capital. And 550 teams from 10 departments have been handed over responsibility for the same.” The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said an important high-level meeting on pollution was held and soon concrete measures will be implemented.
While Rai is yet to hear from the Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav, Delhi’s AQI improved slightly from severe to very poor. According to SAFAR winds coming from the north-west direction at 925 mb are favourable for transport of stubble related pollutants to Delhi. “However, its impact on Delhi’s PM2.5 has reduced as wind speed has reduced. Tuesday’s share of crop residue burning is 30 per cent in PM2.5. The AQI is likely to improve further but remain in very poor category,” it added.
Meanwhile, the city Government has directed all departments to form their own anti-dust cells.
“GRAP will further crack down on the source of pollution. Gensets and open fires will be banned while public transport will be promoted in accordance with GRAP. Water-sprinkling will be accelerated as 400 tankers are set to make rounds across Delhi to reduce pollution. Spraying of the bio-decomposer over 4,000 acres will be completed by November 20,” Rai said.
Sharing the minutes of the meeting, the Minister said representatives of all agencies – the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), all three wings of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCDs) attended.
“The meeting concluded with five crucial decisions being taken to bolster the fight against pollution in Delhi. The four main sources of pollution in Delhi include dust pollution, vehicular emissions, burning of waste and landfills and stubble burning which are responsible for heightening the intensity of pollution from within the Capital,” he said.
“First, while we know it is not in our hands to control the external sources of stubble burning pollution in Delhi, we will launch a complete prohibition on open burning throughout Delhi.
This ‘Anti Open Burning Campaign’ will be run for a month from November 11 to December 11.
This is a joint campaign in which ten different departments - DPCC, North, East, South DMC, Revenue Department, DDA, Development Department, DSIIDC, I&FC Department and Cantonment Board - have been given the onus to assemble their respective teams and implement this campaign. These departments will make sure to crack down upon any and all instances of open burning of waste and landfills and work to control them. And as of now, these departments have reported a collective of 550 teams out of which 304 teams will work during the day, and the remaining 246 will patrol at night. Additionally, it is our appeal to the people of Delhi to report unaddressed instances of open burning on the Green Delhi App so that we can take immediate action through our war room,” he added.
He further stated, “The fourth major point of our plan entails the expansion of the water sprinkling drive. At present, the exercise is being carried by the PWD. Now the fight will be further accelerated with the three MCDs, the Cantonment Board and the DSIIDC pitching in to take the number of tankers deployed over 400. This will provide immediate relief from pollution to an extent.”