Delhi govt waging war on pollution, citizens must join effort: Sirsa

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Wednesday the government is waging a war against pollution and urged people to join its efforts to improve the city’s air.

He said 62 new pollution hotspots have been identified, and work is underway to address them.

Solid waste, road dust, construction activity and traffic congestion are the main factors pushing Delhi’s air quality index higher, Sirsa told reporters.

“Sixty-two hotspots have been identified that contribute to pollution caused by garbage and dust. All Delhi government ministers, under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s instructions, are inspecting these hotspots,” he said.

Also read: Babies struggling to breathe in Delhi’s winter smog

He appealed to residents to support the drive to make Delhi free of garbage, dust, and pollution.

“Delhi government is waging a war against pollution. This needs to be fought together, and I appeal to people to join in to make Delhi garbage, dust and pollution-free,” he said.

Sirsa inspected one of the hotspots in the Palam area along with the local MLA.

Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘very poor’ category for the sixth straight day, with an AQI of 391.

Data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) Sameer app showed that 18 of the 38 monitoring stations recorded AQI levels in the ‘severe’ category.

As per the CPCB, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 to 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 to 200 ‘moderate’, 201 to 300 ‘poor’, 301 to 400 ‘very poor’ and 401 to 500 ‘severe’.

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Air pollution: SC asks CAQM to consider directing NCR schools to postpone sports competitions

Air pollution: The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to consider directing schools in Delhi-NCR to postpone open air sports competitions planned in November and December to “safer months” keeping in mind air pollution levels.

A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran said the issue of severe air pollution crisis in Delhi-National Capital Region needed a pro-active approach and the top court should hear the case to monitor the development on a monthly basis. The direction to the CAQM was passed after senior advocate Aprajita Singh, who is assisting the bench as an amicus curiae, said when elders are sitting in closed spaces with air purifiers on, the kids are training for sports and games competitions in an open “gas chamber”.