Monitor Landfill Fires, Increase Green Cover: Delhi CM Kejriwal Launches Summer Action Plan To Curb Air Pollution

Arvind Kejriwal said that the situation of air pollution in Delhi was improving as there were only six days last year when the air category was ‘serious’ during the winter months. 

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launches Summer Action Plan

Source : Twitter/@ArvindKejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday launched a summer action plan to address pollution concerns in the national capital in the wake of rising temperatures. Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal said that the situation of air pollution in the city was improving as there were only six days last year when the air category was ‘serious’ during the winter months. 

“Air pollution situation in Delhi is improving while it continues to worsen in other parts of India,” said the CM during the press conference. 

“From 2016 to 2022, there has been a reduction in pollution by 30%. We have taken several steps for this, the benefits of which are being reaped now,” he added.

He said that a summer action plan was being introduced like the winter action plan last year because the causes of pollution are different in both the weather conditions. 

Here are the top points that Kejriwal laid out in his summer action plan. 

1. 84 mechanical road sweeping machines, 609 water sprinkling machines, and mobile patrolling teams will be deployed to monitor dust on roads. 
2. 70 more road sweeping machines and 250 water sprinkling machines will be procured by the government. 
3. Preparing policies for industrial pollution and waste management. To work together with Municipal Corporation of Delhi on solid waste management. 
4. To increase green cover in the national capital, 52 lakh saplings will be planted in which 42 lakhs will be planted in summers and 4 lakh will be distributed for free. 
5. Setting up seven city forests across Delhi and one of its kind e-waste eco park. 
6. New Delhi Municipal Corporation and Municipal Corporation of Delhi will work together to develop parks in the city. 
7. Morning and night patrolling teams to monitor and clean dust from the roads. 
8. 220 teams to be deployed to monitor landfill fires. 
9. Construction sites larger than 500 square metre to get registered and will be monitored for dust pollution.