The government of Delhi is taking decisive action to combat pollution and improve the air quality in the national capital. In a bid to address the worsening conditions, the ‘Red Light On – Vehicle Off’ campaign will be launched today at the ITO intersection. This initiative aims to involve the public in the fight against pollution. Additionally, similar campaigns will be held at various locations, including Barakhamba on the 28th, Chandgiram Akhara on October 30th, and all 70 assembly constituencies on November 2nd. With the weather deteriorating and the air quality worsening in Delhi and its neighboring regions, it is crucial to tackle the burning of grass in Punjab and Haryana, which significantly contributes to the deterioration of the Air Quality Index (AQI).
The Delhi Environment Minister, Gopal Roy, announced to the media that the ‘Red Light On-Vehicle Off’ campaign will commence at the ITO intersection this time. Additionally, 2000 Eco Clubs will be established on November 3, to educate children. This campaign was first introduced in 2020. In 2019, scientists from the Council of Industrial Research and the Central Road Research Institute, under the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Government of India, conducted a study on this matter. The study revealed that if vehicles do not turn off their engines when they encounter a red light at an intersection, pollution increases by nine percent. Typically, motorists in Delhi encounter 10 to 12 red lights in their journeys, and their engines continue to run at these junctions. Consequently, unnecessary petrol or diesel is consumed for 25 to 30 minutes, leading to the spread of pollution in the form of smoke. This information is supported by the latest satellite images and data released by NASA, which has long been investigating the impact of burning grass on air pollution. The satellite images clearly depict burning grass in crop fields, indicated by the red dots. Senior Research Scientist at NASA, Hiren Jethwa, informed the media that the burning of haystacks in Punjab and Haryana is increasing. According to pollution control officials, the air quality in Delhi has been recorded as poor for three consecutive days, with no significant improvement expected in the coming days. On Wednesday at 10 am, the average air quality index (AQI) in the city was 238.
Lastly, it is evident that the increasing pollution in Delhi during winters is a grave concern. The efforts made by the AAP government to mitigate this issue are commendable. However, according to recent data from the Center Air Quality Early Warning System, the air quality in Delhi is projected to deteriorate further in the coming days. With an Air Quality Index of 500 being considered severely polluted, precautions must be taken to combat this alarming situation. Factors such as temperature drop, decreased wind speed, and the burning of grass in fields contribute to the rising pollution levels in Delhi. Urgent action is needed to address these causes and protect the well-being of the residents.
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