*Delhi has had more than 200 good air quality days from January to October in last two years; In 2016, it was only 109 days: Gopal Rai*
*According to central government agency CPCB, this time Delhi's air remained clean even day after Dussehra, whereas earlier, AQI often dropped into ‘poor’ category:Gopal Rai*
*From Monday onwards, if anyone is found spreading dust pollution in Delhi, strict action will be taken against them: Gopal Rai*
*Delhi government has launched ‘Anti-Dust Campaign’ starting from October 7, and we have informed construction agencies about all rules in a meeting: Gopal Rai*
*Rain plays important role in AQI; ‘Artificial Rain’ could be effective solution if pollution increases after Diwali: Gopal Rai*
*I have written to Union Environment Minister twice, requesting joint meeting, but I have not received any response, BJP is also silent: Gopal Rai*
*I appeal to people of Delhi: report those causing pollution on ‘Green Delhi’ app, and support Delhi Government in this fight: Gopal Rai*
*Three factors have contributed to our success: cooperation of people of Delhi, nature, and AAP government’s efforts: Gopal Rai*
*Since Arvind Kejriwal’s government took office, awareness among people of Delhi has increased: Gopal Rai*
NEW DELHI: 13th October 2024-In its relentless battle against the choking grip of pollution, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi has launched transformative measures. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai highlighted the success of these efforts, noting that the city has recorded 200 days of good air quality for the second consecutive year.
The Delhi Environment Minister attributed this achievement to the combined efforts of the AAP government and the people of Delhi, urging more cooperation from the central government to further reduce pollution, especially as winter approaches.
In a press conference, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai remarked that winter typically brings pollution across North India, particularly in the capital city, Delhi. However, he pointed out that despite being the day after Dussehra, when air quality usually deteriorates, Delhi was experiencing clean air.
The Delhi Environment Minister noted, “It has been almost ten days since it last rained in Delhi, yet the Air Quality Index (AQI) is not in the poor category. It’s not just about today. This is the second consecutive year in Delhi that this has happened.”
Minister Gopal Rai further added that last year, between January and October 12th, Delhi recorded 200 days of good air quality, and as of October 12th this year, the city had achieved the same milestone. He recalled that in 2020, for the first time after 2016 Delhi had also surpassed the 200-day mark.
“Achieving 200 good air quality days out of 365 without a lockdown is a major achievement for the people of Delhi. I believe that in the coming months, if we continue to work together, we can increase the number of such days,” shared the Environment Minister.
Minister Gopal Rai pointed out that the data, released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), confirms Delhi has experienced 200 good air quality days for two consecutive years. He said, “BJP keeps spreading lies that pollution has increased in Delhi. I urge them to speak to their Union Environment Minister or the CPCB and verify whether the CPCB figures are correct.”
Minister Gopal Rai noted that some experts believe the recent good air quality days can be attributed not only to government initiatives but also to increased rainfall, which significantly helps control dust pollution, vehicle emissions, and biomass burning. He cautioned, however, that as the seasons change, with slowing winds and dropping temperatures, pollutants may settle closer to the surface.
He said, “During July, August, and September, the Air Quality Index (AQI) remained around 50 for extended periods, largely due to rainfall. Thus, to reduce pollution during such times, we suggest that artificial rainfall could be beneficial in maintaining good air quality.”
The Environment Minister said, “I had written a letter a month ago on August 30th to the Union Environment Minister asking him to call a meeting of experts from IIT Kanpur and other departments to address this issue, but there has been no response. We wrote a letter again on 10th October, and no response came.”
“My request to the Honorable Environment Minister, as the Central Environment Minister, it is also your responsibility to support the people of Delhi in this fight against pollution. Therefore, I repeatedly urge you that if the Artificial Rain technology developed by IIT Kanpur is available to India, we should implement it in Delhi so that even in alarming situations, we can reduce pollution levels,” he said.
Minister Gopal Rai expressed that the improvement in pollution levels in Delhi is a result of the cooperation of its residents. He said, “In the past 5-7 years, since Arvind Kejriwal’s government came into power and gradually implemented various measures, awareness among the people of Delhi has increased. People have become more sensitive about pollution and the environment. As a result, we see that more people are buying electric vehicles, planting trees and plants at home, and children are becoming more conscious of these issues.”
“Therefore, I believe that since we have achieved 200 good air quality days by October 12, we can further improve the pollution levels in the coming months of November and December, and for this, we need the support from the people of Delhi,” he said.
The Environment Minister emphasized that there are numerous locations in Delhi where dust is prevalent, vehicles emit smoke, and people burn garbage and biomass. He called for cooperation from the public and the support of all media channels, newspapers, and digital platforms, highlighting that everyone in Delhi shares the same air to breathe.
Minister Gopal Rai announced the launch of the Green Delhi App and urged everyone in the city—to download it from the Google Play Store or App store. By taking photos of polluting activities, residents can assist in the fight against pollution. He emphasized, “With the coordination of all departments through the Delhi War Room, we can effectively address these issues and reduce pollution levels. We are confident that with your help, we will run this campaign together.”
The Delhi Minister stressed the importance of public cooperation, stating that without it, achieving 200 good air quality days would not have been possible. He said, “Three factors have contributed to this success—the cooperation of the people of Delhi, nature, and government efforts. Together, these three factors have enabled us to achieve the goal of 200 good days for the second consecutive year.”
He also appealed to the central government to be more proactive and provide better support, expressing confidence that together they could achieve even better results.
Minister Gopal Rai mentioned the launch of the Anti-Dust Campaign on the 7th and his visits to several sites where violations were identified. Following these visits, he convened a meeting with 120 different agencies at the Delhi Secretariat to clarify necessary actions, as many had claimed ignorance. He assured that there would be no leniency moving forward, and strict action would be taken against anyone found contributing to dust pollution.
The Environment Minister added, “From tomorrow, the Anti-Dust Campaign will be intensified, and any violations will be dealt with strictly. Therefore, I urge all of you to cooperate in this fight and support the government’s initiative to make Delhi pollution-free.”