Delhi Minister Gopal Rai Seeks Help from Congress and BJP to Fight Pollution
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has written to the state unit presidents of Congress and BJP, seeking their suggestions for the Winter Action Plan to reduce pollution in Delhi. In his letter to BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva and Congress president Devender Yadav, Rai highlighted the AAP government’s initiatives to combat pollution.
Pollution Reduction Achievements
Rai mentioned that Delhi has seen a 30% reduction in pollution over the past nine years. He noted that the number of good, satisfactory, and moderate air quality days increased from 110 in 2016 to 206 in 2023. The concentrations of pollutants PM 2.5 and PM 10 have also decreased significantly.
Efforts and Plans
The Delhi government has implemented both long-term and short-term plans, including the ‘Summer Action Plan’ and ‘Winter Action Plan,’ to reduce pollution. Under the EV policy, 13-16% of private vehicles purchased in Delhi are electric, and nearly 2,000 electric buses have been introduced to reduce vehicle emissions. The government has also ensured 24-hour electricity to eliminate generator smoke.
Future Measures
Rai revealed that the government is prepared to undertake artificial rainfall measures to address the pollution crisis. He urged both leaders to provide positive suggestions to help reduce pollution further.
Rai’s letter concluded with a request for prompt feedback to include in the action plan, aiming to reduce pollution in Delhi.
Doubts Revealed
Gopal Rai -: Gopal Rai is a politician in Delhi, which is the capital city of India. He is responsible for looking after the environment in Delhi.
Congress -: Congress is one of the major political parties in India. It has been around for a long time and has many leaders and members.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party. It is another major political party in India, and it has many leaders and members too.
Pollution -: Pollution is when the air, water, or land becomes dirty and harmful to people, animals, and plants. In Delhi, air pollution is a big problem.
Winter Action Plan -: The Winter Action Plan is a set of steps or actions that the government takes to reduce pollution during the winter season when pollution levels are usually higher.
AAP -: AAP stands for Aam Aadmi Party. It is a political party in India that is currently in charge of the Delhi government.
Electric vehicle policies -: Electric vehicle policies are rules and plans made by the government to encourage people to use electric cars and bikes instead of those that run on petrol or diesel. This helps reduce pollution.
Electric buses -: Electric buses are buses that run on electricity instead of petrol or diesel. They are better for the environment because they do not produce harmful smoke.
