Delhi’s Pollution Concerns
Minister Gopal Rai’s Call for Action
Environment Minister Gopal Rai has raised alarms about the increasing pollution in Delhi. He noted that winds from the northwest are likely to worsen the situation due to stubble burning in nearby states like Haryana and Punjab.
Efforts to Address Pollution
Rai plans to write to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav for a third time, urging a meeting to tackle the pollution crisis. He emphasized the need to advance research on artificial rain by IIT Kanpur and has alerted all departments to the rising pollution levels.
Stubble Burning and Vehicle Emissions
Rai highlighted the reduction in stubble burning incidents in Punjab but noted increases in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. He criticized the BJP for not taking sufficient action and for politicizing the issue. Rai also addressed the influx of BS-3 and BS-4 vehicles into Delhi, calling for reduced bus frequency to mitigate pollution.
Letter to Neighboring States
Rai has written to transport ministers in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, requesting a halt on diesel buses entering Delhi. He stressed the health risks posed by diesel emissions, which contribute significantly to air pollution.
Doubts Revealed
Gopal Rai -: Gopal Rai is a politician in India who is currently serving as the Environment Minister of Delhi. He is responsible for addressing environmental issues in the city.
Stubble Burning -: Stubble burning is the practice of setting fire to the straw stubble that remains after grains like rice and wheat have been harvested. This is common in states like Punjab and Haryana and contributes to air pollution.
Diesel Vehicles -: Diesel vehicles are cars, buses, or trucks that run on diesel fuel. They are known to emit more pollutants compared to petrol vehicles, contributing to air pollution.
Union Environment Minister -: The Union Environment Minister is a government official in India responsible for environmental policies and issues at the national level. Bhupender Yadav is the current Union Environment Minister.
Artificial Rain -: Artificial rain is a process where chemicals are sprayed into clouds to encourage rainfall. This can help reduce pollution by washing away pollutants from the air.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party, which is one of the major political parties in India. It is often involved in political discussions and debates on various issues, including pollution.