Gopal Rai holds review meeting, 588 anti-pollution teams deployed
The National Capital continues to breathe toxic air as the AQI continued to remain in the ‘very poor’ category for the seventh consecutive day on Tuesday with a recording of 373, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Several areas were reported in the ‘severe’ category with Wazirpur at 429 AQI followed by Anand Vihar at 423, Vivek Vihar at 405 at 5 pm.
‘Implement grap rules effectively’
We met officials from 33 departments in Delhi to review current actions and strategise on implementing the Winter Action Plan and GRAP rules more effectively in the coming days. — Gopal Rai, Delhi Environment Minister
The Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai held a review meeting with officials from concerned departments to discuss the progress of the Winter Action Plan (WAP). The action plan was announced on September 25 in view of the rising pollution in the winter months. Rai noted that since Diwali, AQI levels in Delhi and neighbouring North Indian states had been consistently high, fluctuating between 300 and 400. According to Meteorological experts, the next ten days are expected to bring adverse weather conditions with relatively lower temperatures and reduced wind speeds. “In light of these conditions, we met officials from 33 departments in Delhi to review current actions and strategise on implementing the Winter Action Plan and GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) rules more effectively in the coming days,” he stated. All departments have been placed on high alert and instructed to act proactively in curbing the rising pollution levels. “With the ongoing festivals, many personnel were on leave, today all departments have been instructed to resume anti-pollution campaigns with full force,” he added. Starting tomorrow, the campaign will be led by MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi), Revenue Department, NDMC (New Delhi Municipal Council), DDA (Delhi Development Authority), Irrigation & Flood Department, DSIDC (Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation), with 588 teams across these departments for coordinated action, Rai announced.
He said, “These teams will be deployed in the field to control incidents of open burning. Additionally, departments have been instructed to provide heaters for those working night shifts in both government and private sectors, especially at construction sites, to reduce the reliance on open fires.”
The Delhi Government, this year has mandated all government departments to ensure heaters are available for night-shift employees at both offices and construction sites.
He further said, “Additionally, any construction site exceeding 500 square meters—regardless of whether it is privately or government-run—must provide heaters for their night-duty workers, including security guards, to help prevent open fires.”The Environment Minister also announced the launch of an anti-open burning campaign in two stages. Rai stated, “First, teams will visit sites to address burning incidents, and second, both government and private construction sites must provide heaters to reduce the need for open fires. This campaign will begin tomorrow (Wednesday).” The minister added that till now 7,927 sites have been inspected for controlling dust pollution, with 428 identified as being in major violation. A total of 63 lakh rupees fine has been imposed on construction sites that are not complying with Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste management rules. Along with this, 76,558 vehicle challans have been issued for pollution violations under WAP, and 3,248 old vehicles have been impounded due to pollution concerns. “In Delhi, a campaign for spraying bio-decomposers to manage stubble burning is currently underway, covering 3,258 acres so far, with directives to expedite these efforts in other areas,” he said.
