"Convene a meeting with all stakeholders": Gopal Rai writes to Union Environment Minister over rising pollution

New Delhi [India], October 23 : Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday wrote to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, urging him to convene a meeting with all stakeholders regarding the rising air pollution in the national capital.
In his third letter to the Union Environment Minister, Rai followed up on his earlier requests for a meeting to discuss cloud seeding as a potential solution to curb the worsening pollution. He highlighted that the Delhi Government had already implemented the Winter Action Plan on September 25 this year and is exploring alternative solutions for immediate relief.
"This is to remind you of the concerns raised in D.O. letters dated 30/8/2024 and 10/10/2024 regarding Delhi's air quality during the winter months, particularly around Diwali, when smog and environmental degradation lead to hazardous pollution levels. The use of cloud seeding as an emergency measure should be considered. As of now, the AQI has already exceeded 350, and GRAP II has been invoked," the letter stated.
Rai emphasised the need for the government to consider cloud seeding, a process that involves artificially inducing rain to help reduce air pollution.
"The Government of Delhi has previously explored cloud seeding as an emergency measure to artificially induce rain and reduce air pollution during critical periods. However, clearances from various Central Government agencies are required to implement this," Rai wrote in the letter.
He further stressed the urgency of adopting this method, as the air quality index (AQI) is expected to turn severe after November 1.
Earlier, Rai had expressed concerns over the increasing pollution in the national capital, noting that northwesterly winds could exacerbate the situation due to stubble burning in neighbouring states.
"As per information from the Meteorological Department, the winds are now moving in a northwesterly direction, which could increase pollution levels in Delhi due to stubble burning in Haryana and Punjab. All departments have been put on alert in light of the rising pollution. I will write to the Union Environment Minister for the third time, urging him to call a meeting. Research conducted by IIT Kanpur on artificial rain should be advanced to address the pollution crisis, and all necessary formalities must be completed. Yesterday, I also wrote to the Transport Ministers of neighbouring states, requesting them to halt the entry of diesel vehicles into Delhi until weather conditions improve," Gopal Rai said.
Speaking on stubble burning in Punjab, Rai noted that 3,559 incidents of stubble burning were recorded in the state in 2022, while this year, the figure stands at 1,400.
On Tuesday, Gopal Rai wrote to the Transport Ministers of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, requesting that they halt the entry of diesel buses from these states into Delhi.