Delhi govt making all-round preparation to combat increasing pollution: Rai

Amid the rising concerns over the environment of the national capital with deteriorating air quality Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Tuesday that the government is making an allround preparation to combat pollution reported news agency ANIAction will be taken against those who violate the norms said Gopal Rai adding that the Delhi government is preparing to come up with a Winter action plan reported ANIAs the Diwali festival is around the corner the Delhi government is making an allround preparation to combat pollution We are looking at every trivial factor that might aid in increasing pollution in Delhi We are prepared to take strict action on those who violate the norms The government is also preparing the Winter action plan Rai said while speaking to ANI in DelhiThe AQI of Delhi rose above 300 the day before yesterday As there is a change in the weather the pollution will increase Though it has become better now he addedWhile urging for cooperation from the public to tackle pollution the environment minister said Though we have banned firecrackers in Delhi But the public too needs to cooperate with the government Since everyone out there is grappling with pollution one needs to make a point that one does not promote activities that might lead to an increase in toxicity in the air Through everyones cooperation we can achieve the goal of a clean environment reported ANISpeaking on the issue of traffic jams as a factor in fueling pollution Gopal Rai said In yesterdays meeting we instructed the police officials to increase the police force on the points where there are massive traffic jams With that effect 91 such points have been identified so that the pollution which is triggered due to the jams can be curbed reported ANIIn the meeting which was held with the Union Environment Minister we pointed out that the buses arriving from Uttar Pradesh or Haryana are those operated by Diesel which leads to a rise in the pollution level Though in Delhi there are CNG or electric buses which should be the case in Uttar Pradesh or Haryana as well he addedSpeaking on the second phase of the Graded Response Action Plan GRAP the environment minister said The government is moving towards the implementation of the second phase of GRAP The next happens to be crucial provided the Diwali festival is around the corner reported ANIGRAP is a set of guidelines and measures implemented to combat air pollution in the National Capital Region NCR of India which includes Delhi and its surrounding areas ANIEarlier on Monday Rai chaired a meeting at the Delhi Secretariat to take stock of the deteriorating air quality in DelhiNCR and said special teams will be deputed to identify and inspect local sources of pollution reported ANIHe said that the Delhi government had reached out to neighbouring states on stubble burning which contributed to the high levels of pollutionAddressing media persons after todays meeting the environment minister said that eight more pollution hotspots other than the existing 13 have been identified in the city and a special team will be deputed to identify and inspect local sources of pollutionMeanwhile the overall air quality in the national capital continued to remain in the very poor category on Tuesday morning as per SAFARIndiaAccording to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research SAFAR the Air Quality Index in the overall Delhi region was in the very poor category at 303 In the Delhi University area and Pusa the quality of air was recorded as very poor and poor with AQI at 335 and 242 respectivelyAir Quality Index AQI is a tool for effective communication of air quality status to people in terms which are easy to understand It transforms complex air quality data of various pollutants into a single number index value nomenclature and colourThe AQI from 0 to 100 is considered good while from 100 to 200 it is moderate from 200 to 300 it is poor and from 300 to 400 it is said to be very poor and from 400 to 500 or above it is considered as severeMoreover India Meteorological Department IMD scientist VK Soni told ANI on Monday that there will be some improvement in the air quality after the implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan GRAP but it will remain in the very poor category until October 26The IMD scientist said that the AQI was close to 300 on Monday and that there are hopes that the measures taken under GRAP 2 will benefit the air qualityWith inputs from ANI