Delhi’s Winter Action Plan: Gopal Rai Announces New Measures to Fight Pollution
New Delhi [India], September 25: Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced the theme for this year’s Winter Action Plan, ‘Milkar chalein aur pradushan se ladein,’ during a press conference on Wednesday. He highlighted the significant reduction in pollution levels in Delhi, attributing it to the collective efforts of the government and the public.
Reduction in Pollution
Rai noted that the number of polluted days in Delhi has decreased from 243 in 2016 to 159 in 2023, a 34.6% drop. This improvement is due to the implementation of ten long-term action plans, with the tree plantation campaign being the most prominent. Delhi’s green belt has increased to 23.01%, and the city now has 7545 buses, including 2000 electric buses. The EV policy has also encouraged the adoption of electric vehicles, with over three lakh EVs now in Delhi.
2024 Winter Action Plan
The 2024 Winter Action Plan will include 21 points, up from 14 last year. Key measures include drone monitoring of pollution hotspots, the formation of a 6-member Special Task Force (STF) to combat pollution, and an anti-dust campaign starting on October 7. Construction sites over 500 meters must register on the portal, and workers will receive training to reduce pollution. Additionally, 85 road-sweeping machines, 500 water-sprinkling machines, and 200 mobile anti-smog guns will be deployed. Water sprinkling will be increased three times from November to December to control pollution levels.
Public Participation and Awards
Four public participation campaigns will be launched, including the Harit Kalash Yatra led by women to raise awareness about plants. The ‘Hari Ratna Award’ will be given to agencies, private companies, and government employees who excel in controlling pollution.
Call for Central Government Support
Rai emphasized the need for the Central Government to address rising pollution levels in NCR states, as they also impact Delhi. He stressed that effective pollution control requires the cooperation of all agencies and governments.
Doubts Revealed
Gopal Rai -: Gopal Rai is a politician in India. He is the Environment Minister of Delhi, which means he helps make rules to keep the air, water, and land clean in Delhi.
Winter Action Plan -: The Winter Action Plan is a set of steps or actions that the government of Delhi takes to reduce pollution during the winter season when pollution levels are usually higher.
Pollution days -: Pollution days are days when the air quality is very bad and can make people sick. The government tries to reduce the number of these days.
Tree plantation campaign -: A tree plantation campaign is an effort to plant more trees. Trees help clean the air by taking in carbon dioxide and giving out oxygen.
Drone monitoring -: Drone monitoring means using small flying machines called drones to watch and check areas from the sky. This helps find places where pollution is high.
Anti-dust campaigns -: Anti-dust campaigns are efforts to reduce dust in the air. Dust can come from construction sites, roads, and other places, and it can make the air dirty.
Water sprinkling -: Water sprinkling is when water is sprayed on roads and other places to keep dust from flying into the air. This helps make the air cleaner.
Public participation campaigns -: Public participation campaigns are efforts to get people involved in activities to reduce pollution. This can include things like planting trees or using less plastic.
Hari Ratna Award -: The Hari Ratna Award is a new award that will be given to people who do a great job in helping to reduce pollution and make the environment better.
Central Government -: The Central Government is the main government of India, which makes rules and decisions for the whole country. Delhi’s government is asking for its help to fight pollution in nearby areas.
NCR states -: NCR states are the states around Delhi that are part of the National Capital Region. Pollution in these areas can also affect Delhi, so they need to work together to reduce it.
