Page 43 - 15NOV2019E

environment

approved an expenditure of Rs 36 crore
from the budget of the Directorate of In-
formation and Publicity for carrying out
mass awareness campaigns against pol-
lution in the national capital.
In January 2019, the BJP government
had launched National Clean Air Pro-
gramme (NCAP) to reduce particulate
matter (PM) pollution by 20-30 per cent
in all 102 cities, including Delhi, that ex-
ceed national air quality safeguards by
2024. Then the Congress, earlier this year,
in its manifesto also mentioned about a
scheme to tackle air pollution. “We will
“Pollution is a complex significantly strengthen the National
Clean Air Program in order to urgently
problem and could only tackle the problem of pollution. All major
have reduced due to About 65% of pollution
the collective efforts in Delhi is due to local

bridges and also allocated Rs. 11,000 of all governments sources. Stubble
crore for the farmers, who were burn- and agencies in Delhi.
ing stubble in Punjab and Haryana,” said burning in Punjab and
Goel. Everyone made their Haryana contributes
Delhi is approaching the assembly
elections, scheduled in February next efforts, but the most only about 5-7% to the
year and the political parties are making important contribution state’s bad air quality,
earnest effort to win the voters over the
idea of clean air. The issue of air pollution was made by the people but this goes up if wind
is definitely one of the key agendas for of Delhi.” blows down from the
the political parties in the assembly polls,
however, both the parties overlook the Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Cm north, say experts
fact that Delhi still faces the “daunting
challenge of 65 per cent reduction from
the current baseline to meet the clean action,” urged Sunita Narain, Director sources of emission will be targeted, mit-
air standards for PM2.5,” according to a General of CSE in a recent video report. igated and reduced to acceptable levels,”
report released by CSE. Delhi Chief Min- CSE report said Delhi needs more broad- the manifesto read.
ister Arvind Kejriwal has said that stub- based and stronger action at regional Other measures like shutting down
ble burning is the major factor behind level with stringent compliance to pre- of thermal power plants, prohibition on
the spike in air pollution in the Capital. vent winter pollution from worsening. use of fuel such as pet coke, furnace oil,
“Till pollution from outside is not solved, In September, Kejriwal had an - coal, switching to BSVI fuel vehicles, re-
Delhi will suffer like this in October and nounced a seven-point action plan for stricting the entry of 10-year-old trucks
November.” However, as per the report Delhi to reduce air pollution including in the Capital and NCR have helped curb
of CSE, stubble burning contributes only free distribution of anti-pollution masks the air pollution in the last eight months.
about 5-7 per cent to Delhi’s pollution. and implementation of the odd-even But it’s tough to say which political party
More than the smokes blowing from scheme which will begin from Novem- deserves the credit as it seems both the
Punjab and Haryana, the local sources ber 4-15. Beside, the AAP has taken initia- centre and state have contributed to
are real aggravators of pollution, it said. tives like appointing of two environment some extent to pollution control. It would
marshals to dissuade people from burn- be interesting to see how these parties
Tackling pollution ing garbage during winters, monitoring would perform in the upcoming assem-
“It’s not enough to have outrage against of hotspots of pollution and start a hel- bly polls while making air pollution as
the pollution. We must be angry because pline number for environment lovers one of the key political issues.
it effects our health. It effects the health of willing to plant trees in their locality.
our children. But, we must also demand In another move, Delhi Cabinet also letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 15 november 2019 43 www.Tehelka.com