"Really have to revamp our action": Centre for Science and Environment on increasing pollution in Delhi
Nov 11, 2023
Faridabad (Haryana) [India], November 11 : Amid the increasing pollution in Delhi, Anumita Roy Chowdhury, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment has asked to speed up action throughout the year to build adequate infrastructure.
Following the rainfall on Friday, there was a slight improvement in Delhi's air quality on Saturday. The air quality, which was previously categorized as 'Very Poor' by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), has now improved to the 'Poor' category.
"On November 2, when the massive buildup of pollution happened. We were amazed at the rate and the speed with which the pollution had increased by nearly 68 per cent within 24 hours. We really have to ramp up our action throughout the year so that we can build adequate infrastructure systems to scale, to implement the solutions at a scale so that vehicular pollution can be controlled by improving public transport," Anumita Roy Chowdhury said.
"Eliminate solid fuel burning in all sectors. At the same time, deal with and aggressively scale up the use of clean fuel and technology in industries," she added.
Meanwhile, Delhi's Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, has written a letter to the Uttar Pradesh Transport Minister and asked for action on the plying of non-destined vehicles in Delhi from UP's border to curb pollution in Delhi.
"In this regard, it is requested that directions be issued to the concerned to ensure that all the non-destined vehicles should be diverted through Eastern and Western Peripheral expressway night at their entry points before the Delhi Border. Accordingly, additional enforcement teams may be deployed at all the Entry Points to Peripheral ways to ensure the implementation of the aforesaid directions," read the letter addressed to UP Transport Minister Dayashankar Singh.
The Delhi government also announced to delay proposed implementation of the odd-even car-rationing scheme in the city.
The announcement comes after the Supreme Court, earlier in the day, directed the Delhi government to make a definitive decision on the implementation of the Odd-Even Scheme. The court, however, refrained from taking a decision itself, leaving the matter in the hands of the state government.
Currently, Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has been implemented in the national capital after the city's air quality plummeted to the 'severe plus' category.
