Amid controversy, the Delhi Government has resubmitted a file regarding the “Red Light On, Gaadi Off” campaign to curb vehicle pollution to Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena for his approval. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Monday said the Delhi government has resubmitted the file to Lieutenant Governor with evidence that such drives have reduced vehicular pollution in cities in India, the US and the UK.
Addressing a press conference, Rai said the Lt Governor had put a hold on the campaign and returned the file on October 29 (Friday) questioning the effectiveness of such measures. “We have answered all queries raised by the LG and resubmitted the file for his approval. Delhi is heading towards an emergency situation. We request the LG to give permission (to launch the campaign) as soon as possible,” Rai said.
The minister said a study by the Central Road Research Institute in 2019 showed that keeping the engine on at traffic signals can increase pollution levels by over nine per cent. Another study by the Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) under the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas at the Bhikaji Cama Place traffic intersection showed that over 62 per cent people started switching off their vehicles after a similar campaign.
“We had considered these studies before launching the campaign in 2020,” Rai said. HDFC bank ran such drives at 126 traffic intersections in 40 cities across India on June 5, 2022, he said. “We also found that similar campaigns were conducted in London, the UK, and North Carolina, the US,” the minister said, adding that the government has sent all evidence to the Lt Governor. Citing data from PCRA, Rai had earlier said if people switch off engines at traffic signals, pollution can be cut down by 15-20 per cent.
According to government estimates, the transport sector accounts for 28 per cent of the PM2.5 emissions in Delhi. Vehicular contribution also makes up 80 per cent of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide in Delhi’s air.
On Saturday, Saxena had returned the file to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asking him to reconsider the campaign. He questioned the effectiveness of such an “ad-hoc” measure as the national capital reels under high air pollution. Sources at Raj Niwas said that Kejriwal sat on the file for 10 days from 11.10.2022 to 21.10.2022, before sending it to LG. According to sources, Raj Niwas has received several calls from CMO and minister to clear the file immediately.
The Raj Niwas sources further pointed out that the proposed date of commencement of the project was October 31, 2022, and not 28th October, 2022, as being wrongly told by environment minister Gopal Rai.
On the stubble burning, the minister also said Punjab would have seen a large reduction in stubble burning if the Centre supported the state government’s plan to provide cash incentive to farmers for not burning crop residue.
The minister also said that the incidents of stubble burning are increasing. “Along with unfavourable meteorological conditions, it can make the air quality situation worse.”
“The Punjab government is doing all it can to reduce stubble burning, but the state would have seen a large reduction in farm fires had the Centre supported the state government’s mega plan to provide cash incentive to farmers for not burning crop residue,” he said in response to a question.