New Delhi: In a bid to check industrial pollution in Delhi, the government has planned to run a month-long drive across the national capital from October 20, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Wednesday, reported news agency PTI.
Addressing the media, Rai said as part of the government campaign, 66 teams have been formed to keep a watch on the fuels being used in over 1,700 industrial units operational in Delhi.
"Though these units have shifted to natural gas, we will ensure that there's no laxity on their part," the minister said.
Ahead of the upcoming festive season and winter, Rai further said the Delhi government has urged the Centre to impose a blanket ban on firecrackers and permit the movement of only CNG and electric vehicles in the entire National Capital Region.
In a letter to his counterpart at the Centre, Bhupender Yadav informed about the several precautionary measures taken by the Delhi government to curb air pollution during winter.
"But these steps will not be effective until Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh deal with the sources of pollution in the NCR region," PTI quoted Rai as saying.
He also said he has urged the Central government to convene an emergency meeting to discuss solutions to the major factors leading to rise in air pollution, PTI reported.
“The states in the National Capital Region (NCR) should impose a complete ban on firecrackers and stubble burning in the entire region and allow only CNG and electric vehicles,” PTI quoted the minister as saying.
According to a report by independent environment think tank Centre for Science and Environment, 31 per cent of Delhi's pollution comes from sources within the national capital, while 69 per cent originates from sources in NCR states, Rai added.
Notably, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal last month had announced a ‘Winter Action Plan’ to check air pollution in the national capital. As per the plan, the government is focusing on 13 hotspots that have been identified by environment experts.