Delhi Pollution: AAP Govt Reappoints Bus Marshals, Police Get NGT Notice As Rai Seeks Action On Illegal Crackers

Delhi Pollution: CM Atishi said that govt will reappoint bus marshals while Environment Minister Gopal Rai has urged LG Vinai Kumar Saxena to take swift action against the illegal sale of firecrackers

The Delhi government has decided to deploy 10,000 civil defence volunteers, who were terminated from service last year while working as bus marshals, to aid in pollution control measures. Chief Minister Atishi announced this decision on Monday, following a meeting with officials. “The bus marshals and volunteers will be reintroduced to assist in pollution mitigation efforts,” Atishi said during a press conference.

These volunteers will work alongside the Transport Department and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), focusing on monitoring vehicle emissions, preventing end-of-life vehicles from entering the city, and bolstering public transport management to reduce reliance on private vehicles.

The reappointed bus marshals will be deployed in 13 pollution hotspots and other high-pollution zones across Delhi. “They will also assist with inspections at 1,000 Pollution Under Control (PUC) centres to prevent any irregularities,” Atishi added, as per news agency PTI. The deployment is planned for four months, following a decision by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleged that the removal of the bus marshals in November last year was part of a "conspiracy" by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP, however, countered, claiming that the reappointment happened due to their request, accusing Atishi of "taking credit without contributing anything."

In a statement, the BJP criticised AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, stating, “It is unfortunate that despite the honourable lieutenant governor (LG) reappointing these volunteers upon the BJP's and their own request, the chief minister is making a disgraceful attempt to take credit without contributing anything.”

Meanwhile, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai expressed hope about the reintroduction of bus marshals. “In the past, initiatives like the odd-even scheme and the ‘Red Light On, Gaadi Off’ campaign showed promising results. We are hopeful that by bringing back these marshals, we can replicate that success,” Rai stated. Registration for the volunteers will begin next week, with deployment expected over the coming four months.

Delhi Pollution: NGT's Notice To Police on Air Quality Measures

In another development, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued notices to the Delhi police chief and the special commissioner of traffic management, seeking responses on actions taken to mitigate air pollution caused by vehicular movement and parking issues. The tribunal, in its order dated October 24, highlighted a lapse in controlling the declining air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR). Noting that the Air Quality Index (AQI) was 364 in Delhi on October 23, categorised as "very poor," the NGT expressed concerns over the delay in invoking measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

A bench led by NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, along with Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi and expert member A Senthil Vel, remarked on the need for a transparent process for implementing different GRAP stages. “It is not disclosed as to the average of how many days are taken to invoke Stage I and what duration is considered ‘sufficiently long’,” the tribunal observed, emphasising the need for objective criteria, as per PTI.

Vehicular pollution, identified as a significant contributor to Delhi’s air pollution, was underscored by the NGT, which directed the Delhi police and the special commissioner of traffic management to file an affidavit detailing ground-level measures to control traffic, parking, and enforce bans on unauthorised vehicles. The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for November 5.

Delhi Pollution: Minister Gopal Rai Urges LG For Crackdown on Illegal Firecrackers

As Diwali approaches and pollution concerns escalate, Environment Minister Gopal Rai has urged Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena to take swift action against the illegal sale of firecrackers in Delhi. Despite a ban effective from October 14 until January 1, 2025, reports suggest that firecrackers are still being sold in various markets across the capital. Rai noted that these supplies are entering Delhi through borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, calling for enhanced enforcement by the Delhi Police and other agencies.

According to PTI, in a letter to the LG, Rai stressed, “Firecrackers worsen air pollution and pose health risks to children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory issues.” He advocated for regular inspections of wholesale and retail vendors and increased vigilance at Delhi’s borders to curb the influx of firecrackers from neighbouring states. Delhi’s air quality remains a concern, with the AQI recorded at 327 on Monday morning, indicating “very poor” air quality.