Delhi Launches 24×7 Green War Room to Combat Pollution
Why in the news?
- Delhi’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai launched the “Advanced Green War Room” to monitor air pollution in Delhi round-the-clock.
- The war room will implement the seven-point winter action plan to combat pollution.
Key Features and Monitoring Tools:
- The war room will use drone monitoring, real-time source apportionment, and satellite data to track stubble burning and pollution hotspots.
- The Green Delhi app will be integrated to manage public complaints about pollution-causing activities.
- An eight-member team from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) will manage the war room.
Focus on Air Quality and Hotspots
- The war room will track data from 24-hour air quality monitoring stations across the city.
- Of the 80,473 complaints received on the Green Delhi app since 2020, 88% have been resolved.
- Special attention will be given to 13 pollution hotspots where the AQI is 125-150 points higher than normal levels, which worsens the overall AQI of Delhi.
Key points:The Green War Room
- Inauguration: Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai launched the Green War Room to address air pollution.
- Integration: Connected to the Green Delhi app for public reporting of pollution complaints.
- Management: Operated by a 17-member team of scientists and engineers, linking 28 government departments.
- Complaint Review: Complaints are reviewed collaboratively by central, state, and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD)
The Winter Action Plan:
- Launch Date: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal introduced a 15-point Winter Action Plan on September 29, 2023.
- Anti-Dust Campaign: Scheduled to commence on October 5, 2023.
Insights from CSE:
- Pollution Sources: 31% of pollution is internal; 69% is external.
- Major Sources: Vehicles are significant contributors to particulate pollution in Delhi.
- Public Engagement: Over 70,684 complaints logged on the Green Delhi app, with 90%
- Current AQI: Delhi’s AQI was 155 on October 3, 2023, categorised as ‘moderate.’
Government Initiatives to Control Delhi’s Pollution:
- Green War Room: Monitors actions of 20 government agencies against pollution in real-time.
- Anti-Pollution Campaign: Launch of “Yuddh Pradushan Ke Viruddh,” including tree transplantation initiatives.
- Green Delhi App: Mobile app for citizens to report pollution incidents like garbage burning and emissions.
- Bio-Decomposer: Free spraying of a solution to help farmers decompose crop residue without burning.
- Water Sprinklers: Use of sprinklers, mechanised sweepers, and anti-smog guns to reduce dust.
- Industry Pollution: Monitoring industrial sites, enforcing clean fuel usage, and extending piped natural gas.
- PUC Certificates: Enforcement of pollution under control certificates for vehicles and banning non-essential trucks.
- Smog Towers: Installation of towers to purify air, with the first in Connaught Place.
- Pollution Hotspots: Identification of 21 hotspots and deployment of teams to monitor pollution sources.
Associated Article:
https://universalinstitutions.com/delhis-21-point-winter-plan-to-combat-air-pollution/