TC Web Desk
On Tuesday, the Delhi government launched a month-long anti-open burning campaign and a drive to control road dust pollution from April 15, informed environment minister Gopal Rai. The government also announced a joint meeting of experts on April 21 to find out a technological solution to the frequent problem of fires at landfill sites.
The Delhi minister was while speaking at a press conference also shared the initiatives planned under Delhi’s ‘Summer Action Plan’ to fight pollution. He said both long-term and short-term measures will be taken from April to September under the plan.
Gopal Rai said, the government will launch Green Delhi Start-up Scheme to encourage ventures to find solutions to environmental problems such as single-use plastic items.
The Public Works Department will form a special task force to check areas where green belts are required to be developed on the roadside.
The government will also develop all the existing parks in the national capital through resident welfare associations or non-government organisations, and aid of ₹2.55 lakh will be given to maintain these parks, the minister said.
From April 20, a special drive will be launched to monitor if the industries based in Delhi are using cleaner fuels. The government also plans to develop four of the 17 city forests in Delhi at a “world-class level” under the summer action plan, which also aims at rejuvenating water bodies, planting saplings and monitoring tree transplantation, phasing out single-use plastics, developing an eco-waste park and urban farming, among others.
In 2021, the Delhi government implemented a 10-point action plan to check the worsening of air pollution in the winter season. The action plan focused on stubble burning, dust, burning of garbage, fireworks, installation of smog towers, identification of more polluting sites, strengthening of green war rooms and controlling vehicular emissions.
