The Delhi government led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has come up with measures to tackle the annual issue of pollution and smog during winters in the national capital.
On Monday, Kejriwal held a meeting with the departments involved to chalk out a plan to mitigate the issue. The challenge for the government is much higher this time as the pandemic of coronavirus is continuing to rage across the entire country, with Delhi being one of the worst affected.
The government believes the pollution crisis would be much more severe this year as the drop in air quality along with Covid-19, which attacks the lungs, would lead to increase in fatalities and reduce chances of recovery.
“One of the main reasons for the annual pollution crisis in Delhi is stubble burning. The smoke generated actually harms the farmer and his family more. In the last five years, Delhi citizens have managed to control the level of pollution in the city. Between 2014 and 2019, the pollution levels have dropped. This year though, the issue might become fatal due to the prevalence of coronavirus. We have taken many steps to control the issue, from making the eastern and western highway operational to providing 24-hour electricity so that generators don’t have to be used, but there is still a long way to go and a lot of work left to do,” said CM Kejriwal.
The Delhi government has come up with a five-point graded action plan to tackle the issue of pollution this year. First, the Pusa Institute of Technology has made a kind of slurry that when sprayed on stubble can turn it into compost. This slurry will be made by the state government.
Second, active steps will be taken to stop dust from blowing in the city. Teams will visit construction sites and fines will be issued to all violators. Road pits will be filled and anti-smog guns will be installed at various spots. Third, identifying and specifically targeting high polluting areas. The state has identified 13 hotspots and will work with specific solutions to pollution issues there.
Fourth, an application called “Green Delhi” is being prepared where citizens can file complaints based on violations they see. Wherever garbage is being burnt, a construction site has dust flying from it or any other environmental violations noticed, complaints can be lodged through the app. The Delhi government is promising to take immediate action on the complaint.
Fifth, a policy is being prepared wherein it is being decided that if a tree is being cut, then 80% of the tree will have to be transported to be planted somewhere else.
“We are working on a policy to transport 80% of any tree that is being cut in the national capital to another spot where it will be replanted. We have appealed to the neighbouring cities and states to work with us. The wind does not see which city or state it is blowing in to, we all have to work together to clean the air. To our neighbouring states, I request you to speak to the farmers and find solutions. Even farmers are not in support of stubble burning. There are 11 coalbased power plants running within a 300 km radius of Delhi, in the national capital we have shut down such plants. The neighbouring states need to work to move to cleaner energy to protect themselves and us. There is also a need to rein in brick kilns,” said the Chief Minister in his appeal.