Environment Min Gopal Rai writes to Centre, seeks joint plan to fight air pollution

NEW DELHI: Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday wrote to Union Minister Bhupender Yadav, seeking time to discuss and prepare a joint action plan to fight air pollution in the national capital in winter. The government is committed to providing clean air to people and is working on short-term and long-term measures. These measures are being implemented through action plans, he said.

Rai said the Delhi government’s efforts have led to an increase in the number of “satisfactory” (AQ1 51 to 100) and “moderate” (AQI 101 to 200) air quality days. He said like the last two years, the government has prepared a winter action plan to fight air pollution. “We request you to give us time to prepare a plan to save Delhi from the possible danger of air pollution in the coming months,” he wrote in the letter to Yadav.

Last year also, Rai wrote several letters, calling for emergency meetings to discuss the air pollution issue but did not receive any reply. Delhi’s winter action plan focuses on stubble management, dust pollution, vehicular emission, open burning of garbage, industrial pollution, green war room, pollution hotspots, smog tower, e-waste parks, plantation, eco-farming, public participation, firecrackers and joint action with neighbouring states.

The government has re-imposed a complete ban on the production, sale and use of all types of firecrackers till January 1, including on Diwali, a practice it has been following for the last two years.  The air quality in Delhi and neighbouring areas start worsening in October due to unfavourable meteorological factors such as low temperatures and wind speed which do not allow dispersion of pollutants.