Anti-pollution drive getting positive response: Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai

NEW DELHI:  People are enthusiastically supporting the Delhi government's "Red Light On, Gaadi Off" campaign which will be spread across the entire city in the coming week, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Friday.

On the third day of the campaign, Rai, who visited the Barakhamba Road-Tolstoy Road crossing along with councillors, said, October 26 onwards the initiative will spread across all 70 constituencies by MLAs and on November 2, it will be implemented in 272 wards to reach as many people as possible.

"Today councillors spread awareness at Barakhamba Road signal. We can see the enthusiasm in people of Delhi. On October 26, MLAs will take the initiative to all 70 constituencies. On November 2, this campaign will be implemented in 272 wards to reach and include as many people as possible," Rai said. 

Elaborating on other measures being taken to control pollution, he said that Delhi Pollution Control Board is closely monitoring 13 pollution hotspots in Delhi and bio-decomposers have already been sprayed in 1000 acre of farm lands. "People are enthusiastic and are becoming a part of this campaign. It is spreading in the city at a good pace," Rai said.

The AAP government’s campaign, which will go on till November 15, aims to spread awareness at 100 traffic signals. A total of 2,500 civil defence volunteers will be standing with placards, asking commuters to switch off engines of their vehicles, at these signals.

Rai, who launched the campaign on October 21 asking people to turn off their vehicles at the red light, had appealed to actively participate in the fight against pollution. He had said that Delhi’s vehicular pollution can be reduced by 15-20 per cent if commuters turn off their vehicle engines while waiting at traffic signals.