Delhi CM Kejriwal's 15-Point Winter Action Plan To Curb Pollution, All You Need To Know

The 15-point action plan is focused on issues like stubble burning, dust pollution, smog towers, and vehicle emissions among other aspects.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Source : PTI

New Delhi: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday announced 15-point winter action plan for curbing pollution saying 611 teams have been formed to check garbage burning in open besides running anti-dust campaign. The action plan is focused on issues like stubble burning, dust pollution, smog towers, and vehicle emissions among other aspects.

“We want to work together with Centre, neighbouring towns, Commission for Air Quality Management to curb pollution levels,” said Kejriwal during the press briefing.

15-point winter action plan

The Delhi government will install 233 anti-smog guns, 150 mobile anti-smog guns to curb pollution.

Delhi's Winter Action Plan:

🌾Parali Decomposer
🪨Anti-Dust
🚗Vehicular Pollution
🗑️Waste Burning Ban
👨🏻‍🏭 Industry
💥Cracker Ban
🏭Real-time source
💚Paryavaran Mitra
♻️E-waste Park
🌳Green Cover
🪖Green War Room
📱Green Delhi App
🎯Hotspots
🚧GRAP
🤝🏼States

-CM @ArvindKejriwal pic.twitter.com/69jD2VTEU2

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) September 30, 2022

The government will install 80 road sweeping machines and 150 mobile anti-smog to curb the dust that emerges from roads. Meanwhile, as many as 521 machines will be deployed to spray water.

Construction sites above 500 sq m have to register on the government's web portal to allow monitoring of the dust situation. More than 586 teams will monitor and implement the anti-dust campaign from October 6 onwards.

Under the revised GRAP, curbs can be put on polluting activities up to three days in advance based on forecasts. Considering suggestions from the public and experts that advance action can prevent a drastic fall in air quality, the plan will be implemented ahead of schedule this year. However, the air quality is expected to stay below the trigger level for the implementation of the measures under GRAP until at least October 2.

Anti-smog guns have been made mandatory at all construction and demolition sites larger than 5,000 square metres. Earlier, construction and demolition sites that were larger than 20,000 square metres were needed to install anti-smog guns to control dust pollution.

To further curb air pollution in the national capital, the Delhi government has extended the complete ban on the use, storage, sale, and purchase of firecrackers till January 1, 2023. There are 210 teams to look into the implementation. Apart from this, there will also be a ban on the online sale or delivery of firecrackers in the national capital.

Apart from this, the government is also in the process of making an e-waste park where electronic waste collected from the national capital will be processed, he said. 

"I urge the neighbouring cities to provide 24-hour electricity so that diesel generators are not used. Just like in Delhi, piped natural gas is used by industries, other states should also follow it," he added.

Here’s how Delhi curbed pollution levels

According to the government's national clean air programme, the air pollution levels have shown a marked improvement in 2021-22 compared to 2017-18.  The CM also stressed that the PM 10 level in the national capital has also been reduced by 18.6 per cent.  

The CM also noted the achievements in curbing pollution levels in the city. One of the major reasons cited by Kejriwal is banning generators and thereby increasing the supply of electricity that controlled the pollution levels. The levels were also brought under control partly due to the closure of two thermal power plants which generated fly ash.

The government also tackled dust pollution in construction sites through penalties and real-time monitoring. The change in the usage of fuel also brought noticeable changes in the environment. Kejriwal said the usage of PNG in registered industries also helped in controlling pollution.

The capital’s green cover has also increased to 23.6 per cent under the Aaam Aadmi Party, noted Kejriwal.

The chief minister noted in 2020 the electric vehicle (EV) policy was introduced and all the targets were met with a lot of people shifting to EVs. Even in public transport several CNG and the addition of electric buses also changed the condition.

(With inputs from PTI)