NEW DELHI: Following a meeting with the Central government over air quality, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Saturday called the next 15 days “crucial” and emphasised the urgent need to tackle air pollution across northern India.
The meeting was attended by Union Ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Bhupender Yadav, along with environment ministers from neighbouring states to assess and address the worsening air quality in the region.
Rai, while talking to the media later, expressed concern over the delay in this year’s meeting and said, “Last year, a similar meeting was held in August, allowing us more time to strategise.
“This year’s meeting took place in the last week of October. Had it been conducted three months earlier, we could have tackled the pollution problem more effectively,” Rai said.
The Delhi minister highlighted Punjab’s efforts in regards to bringing down the number of farm fires. He said only 1,500 cases were reported this year compared to nearly 5,000 cases in 2022.
However, he noted an uptick in incidents in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, which poses a significant risk to regional air quality.
“The next 15 days are crucial,” Rai warned, explaining that seasonal winds from the northwest can carry pollutants into Delhi and surrounding areas, intensifying the pollution crisis. “While stubble burning has reduced, the post-Diwali period will be critical,” he added.
Rai urged the central and state authorities to maximise efforts in the coming days, aiming to curb pollution levels before the onset of winter, when air quality typically worsens due to stagnant air and cooler temperatures.
Rai’s statement comes a day after the Delhi government tested drones to identify pollution sources in hotspot zones.
“As part of the pilot project, the drones operated at a height of 120 metres, covering a 200-metre radius, and transmitted data on various pollution sources to the Environment Department and DPCC. Engineers from both agencies will analyse this data and submit a report, which will inform further actions for pollution control. If the pilot project proves successful, drone mapping will be extended to other hotspots across the city,” he shared after holding the test.
Rai further stated that the AAP government launched the Winter Action Plan on September 25 to tackle winter pollution, focusing on 21 key areas.