*Environment Minister Gopal Rai takes stock of pollution situation with concerned departments; instructs implementation of stricter measures.
*AAP Government to speed up water sprinkling and use anti-smog guns in more polluted areas
*Instructions have been issued to spray water on hotspots using a dust suppressant: Gopal Rai
*Instructions to the coordination team to visit hotspots daily: Gopal Rai
*6,200 sanitation workers from MCD will be deployed to clean the roads in Delhi: Gopal Rai
*1,800 traffic police will be deployed for smooth flow of traffic at crowded places: Gopal Rai
*Anti-dust team has been instructed to inspect at least two C&D sites daily: Gopal Rai
*Orders have been issued to government departments, private agencies, construction sites, and resident welfare associations to provide heaters for security guards on night duty: Gopal Rai
*Frequency of Metro and CNG & Electric bus service will be increased: Gopal Rai
*Have written to Transport Ministers of NCR states and urged them to send only CNG and Electric buses to Delhi instead of diesel buses: Gopal Rai
NEW DELHI:22.10.24-In response to the escalating pollution levels in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has ramped up its efforts by implementing stricter measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Efforts include enhancing road dust control, increasing water sprinkling, and deploying more municipal workers to manage pollution hotspots. The environment department has launched a campaign via radio and newspapers to promote public transport. Delhi’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai stressed the need for collective action, highlighting that neighboring NCR areas produce twice the pollution of Delhi. He urged BJP-ruled states to implement GRAP strictly and to switch to electric or CNG buses, expressing hope for their cooperation in improving air quality.
Highlighting the growing environmental concern, Gopal Rai emphasized that pollution levels are on the rise in the capital, coinciding with the seasonal weather changes. He pointed out that this alarming trend isn't confined to Delhi alone but is affecting the entire northern region of India. Gopal Rai explained that the polluted particles in the airshed are gradually accumulating, leading to a significant deterioration in air quality across North India.
Gopal Rai explained that the CAQM has outlined four stages under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to manage the increasing pollution levels in Delhi and the NCR region. He noted that GRAP stage 1 is activated when the Air Quality Index (AQI) surpasses 200. He said, “To ensure this is executed, we have held joint meetings with various departments in Delhi and have formulated an action plan.”
He further explained, “In today's meeting, it was decided that to implement the first rule of GRAP stage 2, water sprinkling will be increased to control road dust pollution. Additionally, 6,200 additional MCD workers will be deployed to clean the road dust, and water sprinkling at various hot spots in Delhi will be increased. Dust suppressant powder will also be mixed with the water used for sprinkling at these hot spots. All MCD hot spot in-charges have been directed to begin this sprinkling from the 25th of this month.”
Gopal Rai stated that inspections at construction and demolition sites will be intensified to better control pollution. He said, “Each team will inspect two sites daily and submit reports to the war room. Furthermore, a coordination committee led by the DC will visit hot spots to monitor the action plan's implementation and report any issues to the war room.”
He continued, “Delhi's power supply is available 24 hours, but the power department has been directed to monitor power cuts, especially in industrial areas, to minimize the need for diesel generator sets. As per GRAP, the traffic police have been tasked with addressing congestion at 97 identified points, and 1,800 traffic police officers will be reassigned to manage traffic.”
Gopal Rai mentioned that the environment department has initiated an awareness campaign via radio and newspapers, and this effort will continue in the coming days. He added, “To discourage private transportation, directions have been given to NDMC and MCD to increase parking charges or explore other alternative methods. Metro services, which currently operate 4,200 trips, will increase by 40 additional trips from tomorrow, and DTC buses will reduce their intervals to further encourage public transport usage.”
“To control biomass burning, GRAP stage 2 mandates that RWA (Resident Welfare Associations) provide heaters to guards and night-duty workers. It was decided in today's meeting that DPCC will direct all government departments, private institutions, RWAs, and construction sites in Delhi to provide heaters for night-duty staff to implement GRAP stage 2 effectively,” he added.
Gopal Rai emphasized that while Delhi contributes to pollution, neighboring NCR areas are responsible for producing twice as much, which severely affects Delhi's residents. He urged the BJP-ruled states surrounding Delhi to strictly enforce the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to collectively tackle and reduce pollution levels.
Gopal Rai said, “We have observed that certain areas, especially Anand Vihar, experience AQI levels of around 400 when Delhi's overall AQI is 300. Ground visits revealed that buses from neighboring states—BJP-ruled Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan—contribute significantly to the pollution levels in these areas. We are writing to the transport ministers of these states, requesting their cooperation in not sending diesel buses to Delhi.”
Gopal Rai expressed hope that the BJP-led governments and ministers in neighboring states would respond positively to their request to use electric or CNG buses, instead of diesel ones, to help control pollution around Delhi. He emphasized the need for collective efforts to reduce pollution levels.
Gopal Rai concluded saying, “After Arvind Kejriwal's return, our entire focus is on undoing the injustices caused by the BJP, and we will continue working for the rights of those who have been wronged."
==============================
*AAP Govt to provide Rs 5,000 monthly assistance to persons with high special needs: Saurabh Bharadwaj
*Under Arvind Kejriwal’s guidance, Delhi Govt will be first in India to provide substantial assistance to persons with high special needs: Saurabh Bharadwaj
*Across India, only Tamil Nadu offers a Rs 1,000 per month assistance to persons with high special needs; Delhi Government will provide 5x of that: Saurabh Bharadwaj
*Cabinet has approved the scheme; individuals with a medical certificate confirming a disability of over 60% will be entitled to assistance: Saurabh Bharadwaj
*BJP does not have courage to help persons with special abilities in any of its 22 states: Saurabh Bharadwaj
*Elected government of Delhi, despite conspiracies, remains dedicated to helping those who truly need government support: Saurabh Bharadwaj
NEW DELHI-22.10.24- In a landmark move aimed at supporting persons with special abilities, the Aam Aadmi Party Government has announced a monthly financial assistance of Rs 5,000 for individuals with high special needs in Delhi. This decision, passed by the Cabinet in its latest meeting, makes Delhi the first state in India to provide such significant support to this vulnerable section of society. The announcement was made by Social Welfare Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj today who credited Arvind Kejriwal’s ‘treasury of honesty’ as the vision behind the scheme.
The Delhi Government already provides pensions to over 1,20,000 individuals whose disability exceeds 42%. Now, persons with over 60% disability, as verified by medical certificates and UDID cards, will be eligible for a Rs 5,000 monthly pension. Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj has issued necessary directions for this initiative to be immediately implemented.
Addressing the media, Saurabh Bharadwaj highlighted the global context, stating that as per the World Health Organization (WHO), 15% of the world’s population is dealing with some form of disability. Out of this, around 2-4% of people have such severe disabilities that they fall into the category of high special needs. He explained that while the term 'disability' may have a negative connotation, there is a growing shift towards referring to individuals with disabilities as “persons with special abilities.” However, he clarified that since the government’s policies are derived from Legal Acts, the official terminology remains 'persons with disabilities' as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act. He urged the media to be more considerate in their language, requesting that they refer to such individuals as “specially abled persons” in their reports.
The Minister shared that according to the 2011 Census, approximately 2,44,882 people in Delhi are specially abled. “Based on WHO estimates, we have assessed that around 9,500 to 10,000 individuals in the city are considered to have high special needs,” he added.
Saurabh Bharadwaj explained that the Delhi Government already provides pensions to around 1,20,000 specially abled individuals with disabilities exceeding 42%. Individuals with a medical certificate and UDID card are entitled to the pension.
Announcing the decision he said, “Now, under the guidance of Arvind Kejriwal, it has been decided that many of these people need additional support, and hence, the government should extend more help. Therefore, the government decided to increase its support for them. When this file came to me two weeks ago, I wanted to know which states are providing assistance to persons with high special needs under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016." He pointed out that Tamil Nadu is the only state currently offering financial assistance to individuals with high special needs, providing Rs 1,000 per month. However, he emphasized that this amount is insufficient and that Delhi is now stepping up to set a new standard. “Following discussions, the Cabinet decided yesterday that the Delhi Government will offer Rs 5,000 per month to such individuals,” Saurabh Bharadwaj said.
He added that the government will soon open registrations for eligible individuals, who will need to have a medical certificate confirming a disability of over 60%. Once verified, these individuals will be entitled to receive Rs 5,000 per month in financial assistance.
Saurabh Bharadwaj stressed the importance of timely implementation, saying, “We have already instructed the department to roll this out immediately, and I believe that after this, the elected government of Delhi will be the first in the country to offer such substantial financial support to our specially abled people with high needs.”
In a pointed response to criticism from opposition parties, Saurabh Bharadwaj stated, “The Bharatiya Janata Party says that the Delhi government is running a deficit, but under your rule in 22 states, none of you had the courage to do anything for these people. The elected government of Delhi, despite your conspiracies, remains dedicated to helping those who truly need government support. This is the treasury of the honest, elected government of Delhi – it grows every day and never runs a deficit; it only increases.”