Delhi CM Announces 10-Point Winter Action Plan, Appeals Neighbouring States To 'Work Together For Clean Air'

The winter action plan will focus on dust control, using the Pusa bio-decomposer, installing smog towers and checking waste burning and vehicular emissions.

Delhi covered in smog (File Photo)

New Delhi: Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal on Monday announced a 10-point winter action plan to control pollution which gets worse during the colder months due to various factors including stubble burning in neighbouring states. 

The winter action plan will focus on dust control, using the Pusa bio-decomposer, installing smog towers and checking waste burning and vehicular emissions.

While speaking to the media, he said: "Currently, the air pollution is under control in Delhi but it will start rising with stubble burning in the neighbouring states in winters."

Kejriwal claimed that the Centre and neighbouring states have not done anything to check stubble burning, which will lead to a rise in air pollution in the winter season. He appealed to the governments of neighbouring states to work together to make the air clean.

He also urged the neighbouring states to retrofit thermal power plants in NCR areas with new technology and ensure the use of CNG-operated vehicles and cleaner fuel in industries in the region.

"The Delhi government has provided a solution to the problem of stubble burning the Pusa bio-decomposer. We hope it will be used as much as possible," he said.

Aside from stubble burning, Kejriwal said the Delhi government has formed 75 teams for the inspection of construction sites to control dust pollution and 250 teams to keep a check on waste burning.

"We have imposed a complete ban on the sale and purchase of firecrackers. The smog tower (at Connaught Place) has yielded good results so far. We will continue to monitor its performance and then take a call on constructing more such towers in Delhi," the CM said.

Special teams have been formed to monitor pollution hotspots. Steps will also be taken to address traffic jams on 64 identified roads to reduce vehicular pollution. As many as 500 teams have been constituted to check Pollution Under Control certificates, he said.

The Chief Minister further said that his government is building the country's first eco waste park spread in an area of 20 acres in Delhi.

The chief minister said following in the footsteps of Delhi, the NCR areas should also ensure the use of clean fuel in thermal power plants and other industries, CNG-operated vehicles, hotspot monitoring and round-the-clock power supply to prevent the use of diesel generators.