Delhi Calls High-Level Meeting to Address Pollution Crisis with Enhanced GRAP Enforcement

Delhi Calls High-Level Meeting to Address Pollution Crisis with Enhanced GRAP Enforcement

VoM News Desk | November 16, 2023 | 05:26 PM IST | Climate & Environment, Delhi | Follow on Google News

Delhi Calls High-Level Meeting to Address Pollution Crisis with Enhanced GRAP Enforcement

Delhi Calls High-Level Meeting to Address Pollution Crisis with Enhanced GRAP Enforcement

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced a high-level meeting scheduled for 1 pm at the Delhi Secretariat to discuss and intensify the enforcement of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in response to the city’s escalating air pollution crisis. The meeting aims to enhance the implementation of GRAP’s rules on the ground.

Severe Air Quality in Delhi

Delhi is currently experiencing a severe air quality crisis, with thick smog enveloping the city. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in various parts of Delhi has been recorded in the ‘severe’ category, with locations like Bawana, RK Puram, Jahangirpuri, Dwarka, Alipur, Anand Vihar, ITO, and near the Delhi airport showing alarmingly high AQI levels.

Post-Diwali Pollution Surge in State Capitals

An analysis of PM 2.5 data for 11 capital cities under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) tracker revealed that nine out of these cities experienced higher pollution levels in the first 12 hours post-Diwali this year compared to last year, highlighting the widespread nature of the air quality problem.

Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena Calls for Action

Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena emphasized the need for concrete action within Delhi to address pollution. He advocated for solutions like repairing roads, paving sidewalks, managing construction sites, and reducing vehicular emissions. Saxena criticized the practice of blaming external factors, stressing the need for tangible steps since the smog issue in 2016.

Political Perspectives on Pollution Sources

Congress MP Manish Tewari pointed out the inconsistencies in blaming Punjab’s farm fires for Delhi’s pollution, citing the contrasting AQI levels in Chandigarh and Delhi. This statement challenges the common narrative that links Delhi’s pollution solely to agricultural practices in neighboring states.

Delhi Government’s Monitoring and Potential Measures

Gopal Rai informed that the government is closely monitoring the city’s pollution levels and is considering measures like artificial rain and the implementation of the odd-even vehicle rule if the situation worsens to the ‘Severe’ plus category. Decisions regarding these measures will be based on observations over the coming days.

Current Pollution Control Measures

Delhi is currently operating under stage four of the GRAP, which involves a series of measures to mitigate the impact of severe air pollution. The outcome of the high-level meeting is expected to further strengthen these efforts.

VoM News Desk

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