Delhi Pollution: CM Kejriwal Requests Residents To Take Responsibility With These 3 Formulas

The minister also noted that pollution caused locally was within a safe limit but stubble burning in other states was increasing it.

Delhi under smog last year after Diwali (File Photo)

New Delhi: The Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal urged the residents of the city to help reduce the pollution in the capital. He gave a simple 3-point formula which he said can help bring down the pollution drastically. 

This included switching off the engine of the vehicle at traffic signals, carpooling or taking public transport at least once a week and registering air pollution complaints using the Green Delhi app on their phones.

The minister also noted that pollution caused locally was within a safe limit but stubble burning in other states was increasing it.

During a virtual press conference, Kejriwal said, "I have been tweeting air quality data for the past one month. It shows pollution has started increasing because neighbouring states did not help their farmers who are forced to burn paddy straw stubble". 

He also mentioned that it is high time that Delhiites should take responsibility and really take measures to bring the pollution down. He said that switching off vehicle engines while waiting at traffic signals should become a habit.

“Even though we will launch a formal campaign this year again from October 18, I request you to start it in a personal capacity from today. Studies have shown that by doing this we can collectively save around Rs.250 crores a year and reduce pollution by up to 15%", he was quoted by HT.

People should also become eyes and ears of the Delhi government by reporting incidents of pollution like garbage burning so that it could be checked, he added. He requested people to download the Green Delhi app and claimed that they resolved more than 23,000 complaints received through the app so far. 

Earlier this month, he 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.

During which he mentioned that 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.