Delhi Air Pollution: Citing experts and scientists, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Thursday said slow windspeed and a drop in temperature were the main reasons behind the sheet of pollutants enveloping the national capital. This comes amid the rising air pollution in the city. The air quality across Delhi continued to be in the 'Severe' category on Thursday as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Speaking on the air pollution situation in the national capital, Gopal Rai said, "Experts and scientists are saying that windspeed is slow and temperature is going down leading to a sheet of pollutants enveloping the city. We are trying to control new sources of pollution and implemented winter action plan. A meeting of all ministers has been called today to discuss its implementation more strictly," as quoted by the news agency PTI.
Talking about the measures being taken in Delhi to curb air pollution, Gopal Rai said that the city government is trying to reduce all the sources of pollution. He further stated that many strict measures are being taken, which include GRAP.
"The speed of the air has never been still for so long. In this condition, we are trying to reduce all the sources (of pollution). As a blanket layer is there, pollution is trapped inside as well. If we do not control the new pollution, then the level will increase very much... That's why we are taking so many strict measures. Whether it's the winter action plan, GRAP, or implementing the direction given by the Supreme Court,” Gopal Rai said, as quoted by the news agency ANI.
On Punjab stubble burning, the Delhi Environment Minister said that this year the stubble burning is much less compared to the last year. "Stubble burning is much less than last year. Previously, stubble burning was happening in a scattered manner. Now that the sowing season is coming, they are in a rush to burn it all. We are talking to the people there. We need immediate action there," Rai said, as quoted by ANI.