The Delhi Government on Monday submitted a detailed affidavit to the Supreme Court about its efforts to reduce air pollution in the national Capital.
The Delhi Government listed the measures to bring down pollution and pointed out that imposing a lockdown in the city would be meaningful only if it is implemented across the entire National Capital Region (NCR).
“The GNCTD (Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi) is ready to take steps like complete lockdown to control local emissions. However, such a step would be meaningful if it is implemented across the NCR areas in neighbouring States. Given Delhi’s compact size, a lockdown would have limited impact on the air quality regime. This issue would need to be addressed at the level of airshed involving the NCR areas. In view of the above, we are ready to consider this step if the same is mandated for the entire NCR areas by the Government of India or by the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and adjoining areas,” an affidavit filed by the Delhi Government said.
In the affidavit submitted to the apex court, the Delhi Government mentioned various steps being taken by the ruling regime.
From the ‘Green war room’, the anti-dust campaign, installation of anti-smog towers, the DPCC’s studies on different sources of pollution, an IIT-Kanpur study on vehicular, roadside and construction dust, to the identification of 13 major hotspots in terms of air pollution in Delhi.
The city Government also mentioned about controlling stubble burning. “After successful demonstration over 2,000 acres last year, the PUSA bio-decomposer was sprinkled free of cost by the Delhi Government in more than 4,200 acres of basmati and non-basmati fields using combined harvesters,” said the Delhi Government.
The city Government also mentioned their project on the construction of E-waste park, monitoring landfill sites to mitigate pollution from waste burning, upgradation of the Green Delhi App and controlling pollution from vehicles.