Delhi Government to Launch Public Clean-up Drive and Control Air Pollution

The plan looks at greater pollution monitoring, more efficient pollution checks for vehicles and shutting down of polluting industries.

Government of Delhi is soon to launch its first comprehensive, and high-octane 'public programme' to help clean up Delhi's extremely toxic air that-as per a global study-kills 80 people a day.

"Arvind Kejriwal has clearly told officials that air pollution is Delhi's biggest problem. Citizens will be part of this initiative which will have high-impact awareness drives," a top government official told.

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The environment department has submitted its action plan with two components - long-term and short-term strategies.

The plan looks at greater pollution monitoring, more efficient pollution checks for vehicles and shutting down of polluting industries. The focus is on getting more buses, enforcing a complete ban on burning of leaves, agriculture waste and polluting vehicles and checking dust pollution from construction sites.

Part of the Rs 526-crore budget set aside for the government's publicity that resulted in criticism from various quarters will be used on measures such as media advertisements and hoardings to persuade people into taking up green practices.

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Kejriwal has told all officials supervising the planning and execution of infrastructure projects that they would get a hurdle-free atmosphere, provided green concerns are adequately addressed.

More and more people in the Capital can be seen wearing white surgical masks and installing air purifiers with Delhi's air having turned the dirtiest in all global cities, according to a WHO study, resulting in the rise of asthma and cases of other related ailments.

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A Delhi government report says air pollution has, in the last 14 years, doubled in the Capital. The quantum of particulate matter 10 (particles smaller than 10 microns in diameter that lodge deep in the lungs and blood cells) has gone up from 150 microgram per cubic meter in 2001 to 318 in 2014.

The current PM 10 levels is seven times higher than what is safe (60 microgram per cubic meter). "Some of the measures we need to take over the next months to counter the notorious winter pollution. We also have a one-year plan ready. We will be working closely with other NCR towns for better results. We're in touch with the Union ministry of environment and forests for effective inter-state compliance," said a Delhi government official.

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The National Green Tribunal which last year ordered all old, polluting vehicles off Delhi roads has held several times that the Capital's air remains 'highly polluted', dangerous to human health and environment, and drastic measures are needed to protect residents against health hazards. The NGT has stayed the ban till arguments from government and other agencies are heard.

"The growth in vehicular population cannot be curbed without scaling up public transport. We need to dis-incentivise diesel (the most polluting fuel)."

Source-Medindia