Delhi's 8 additional pollution hotspots identified; next 2 weeks critical, says state minister Gopal Rai
New Delhi, October 23: In light of the forthcoming festivals of Dussehra and Deepavali and the persistent impact of farm fires, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai emphasised the critical nature of the next two weeks for the city. This urgency coincides with the initiation of phase two of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) aimed at addressing the 'very poor' air quality in the region.
Today, Minister Rai chaired a meeting at the Delhi Secretariat to evaluate the deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR. He announced that special teams would be dispatched to pinpoint and examine local pollution sources. Rai asserted, "The next 10-15 days are crucial, and we are striving to perform better than in the past." Regarding stubble burning, which contributes to the elevated pollution levels, Rai reported that the Delhi government had engaged with neighboring states. "We have spoken to the environment ministers of the surrounding states, and they have assured us that they will take action on stubble burning. Due to Diwali, stubble burning, and Dussehra, the next 10 to 15 days are very crucial for Delhi," Rai explained.
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Following the meeting, the environment minister announced that they had identified eight more pollution hotspots, in addition to the existing 13. Special teams would be deployed to investigate these sources of local pollution, including areas like Shadipur, Mandir Marg, Patparganj, Sonia Vihar, and Moti Bagh. On Monday morning, the overall air quality in the national capital was categorized as 'Very Poor,' with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 306, slightly higher than the 302 recorded on Sunday afternoon, as per SAFAR-India.
Minister Rai commented on the changing weather conditions, stating, "The cold has started increasing in Delhi, and the wind speed has decreased. This may result in an increase in pollution. Particulate matter is staying near the ground. The second phase of GRAP has been implemented in Delhi."
He emphasised that although the weather was beyond their control, efforts needed to focus on pollution source management. "GRAP 2 is mainly about cleaning and water sprinkling, among other measures. We will increase the frequency of buses and trains," the minister added. The Commission for Air Quality Management sub-committee activated the 11-point action plan under Stage-II of the revised GRAP across the National Capital Region. GRAP-2 includes a ban on coal and wood-fired stoves, increased use of CNG and electric buses, regular road cleaning, and water sprinkling, along with traffic management to reduce congestion.
Authorities responsible for enforcing GRAP measures, such as Pollution Control Boards of NCR States and DPCC, have been directed to ensure the effective and strict implementation of actions under Stage-II of GRAP in addition to those under Stage-I.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) serves as a tool to communicate air quality status to the public using categories that are easy to comprehend. The six AQI categories are Good Satisfactory, Moderately Polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe, with each being determined based on ambient air pollutant concentrations and their potential health effects. The scale ranges from "good" (0-50) to "severe" (401-450).
- ANI
