New Delhi, Sep 29 (Agency) In a bid to curb the air pollution menace in the national capital, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday announced 15-Point Winter Action Plan for the purpose. Kejriwal said, “We have reduced pollution by increasing green cover, shutting down thermal power plants, imposing fines for dust pollution, shifting industries to PNG, and providing 24-hour electricity.” Hailing the people of Delhi, he said, “In the past few years, due to the efforts of Delhiites, 30 per cent reduction in air pollution levels.”
Separate action plans will be in place for identified 13 hotspots, and free distribution of bio-decomposer will be done on stubble burning to reduce the air pollution. “We will monitor construction sites and use anti-dust machines, reduce vehicle pollution, and enforce a ban on open waste burning,” said the Delhi CM. The Delhi government will closely monitor Industries and firecrackers ban will be in place, real-time monitoring will be conducted, and E-Waste Park will be established Kejriwal said that a Green War Room would be set up, and people could register complaints on the Green Delhi app. “If pollution increases, we will implement ‘GRAP’ strictly, run public awareness campaigns, and collaborate with neighboring states,” he added.
The CM further said various official data by the Central government on pollution. Kejriwal said, “In 2014, the level of PM2.5 was 149, today it’s 103. The PM10 used to be 324 in 2014, today it’s been reduced to 223. Approximately 30 percent reduction in the level of pollution has been recorded. In 2016 there used to be only 109 days with ‘Good Air’ in terms of pollution levels, now this has increased to 163. In 2016, there were 26 days with ‘Severe Air,’ this number has been reduced to 6 days only.”