Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Monday held a review meeting with officials of the Environment Department and DPCC in view of pollution. He said that the government is going to start anti open burning campaign in Delhi from 14th November to 14th December. 611 teams have been deployed under this campaign. All the teams will work 24 hours to monitor and stop incidents of open burning in Delhi.
Minister Gopal Rai said that the restrictions of Group 4 phase will remain in force in Delhi till the next order of CAQM. He instructed the DC of MCD to run a special campaign on the hotspot. He informed that the anti-dust campaign has been extended from November 14 to November 30.
Mani Diwali by lighting lamps in Delhi
Congratulating the people of Delhi, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that the people of Delhi performed their civic duty, respected the orders of the Supreme Court and celebrated Diwali by lighting lamps in Delhi. There is a ban on manufacturing, distribution, storage and burning of firecrackers in Delhi, but if the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana had strictly followed the ban on firecrackers, then today the pollution level of Delhi would not have increased by 100 points in a day.
Also read: When will odd-even be implemented in Delhi? AAP minister Gopal Rai announced
Discussion with experts regarding pollution
The Environment Minister said that we discussed pollution with experts and officials. According to him, the pollution level is likely to increase in the coming days. According to the estimate, the wind speed will slow down and then the pollution particles will come to a lower level, due to which the level of pollution is likely to increase. Therefore, it has been decided that Group 4 restrictions will remain in force in Delhi until further orders from CAQM.
Inspection of 20 thousand construction sites
Delhi’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that the teams related to the anti-dust campaign have so far inspected about 20 thousand construction sites and have issued notices and challans to 1161 sites after finding violations of the guidelines issued at the construction sites. Besides, a fine of Rs 2 crore 47 lakh was also imposed.
Also read: AAP and BJP tussle over Delhi pollution, Sanatan Dharma also entered
anti dust campaign campaign
Gopal Rai told that in the first phase, anti-dust campaign has been run in Delhi from 7 October to 7 November. In the second phase, anti dust campaign will be run from 14th November to 30th November. 591 teams have been deployed in this campaign. They are inspecting the ongoing construction sites at different places inside Delhi and taking action against violation of norms. All teams have been instructed to conduct continuous inspections.
Order to monitor hotspots
DPCC has been instructed to call the construction agency and instruct them to follow the norms properly. Complaints were coming from many places that the sites where work had stopped were left as they were, due to which there is a possibility of dust flying there. Therefore, these teams have been ordered to strictly monitor these spots.
Emphasis on spraying water
The minister said that all concerned departments should insist on intensifying water sprinkling. A special campaign regarding water sprinkling will be launched from Tuesday i.e. today. Instructed the DC of MCD to run a special campaign on the hotspot. The 13 hotspots identified in Delhi will be monitored more strictly.
Anti open burning campaign starts from today
He told that it has been decided to start anti open burning campaign in Delhi from 14th November. This campaign will be run for a whole month i.e. from 14th November to 14th December. Under this campaign, 611 teams have been deployed for surveillance across Delhi. These teams will work 24 hours to monitor and prevent incidents of open burning in Delhi.
What did the minister say on odd-even?
Regarding Odd-Even, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that if the level of pollution reaches the Severe Plus category, then the government will consider it and take steps towards implementing it.
