Delhi Minister Gopal Rai Highlights ‘2-3 Factors’ For Rising Pollution
New Delhi: Delhi’s Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, held a meeting on Friday to address the increasing pollution in the city. Despite a decrease in stubble burning incidents, Rai pointed out two main factors contributing to the rising pollution levels.
During the meeting, Rai discussed the issue with officials from the Environment Department and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). “We have noticed an increase in pollution levels in Delhi. The incidents of stubble burning have significantly reduced, yet pollution levels continue to rise. Scientists have identified 2-3 factors contributing to this situation. Firstly, vehicle pollution accounts for 36% of the overall pollution. Secondly, biomass burning also plays a significant role,” Rai said.
To tackle these issues, the government has implemented measures such as the rules of GRAP 3 to control vehicle pollution. Additionally, relevant organizations, including the MCD, Revenue, DDA, and NDMC, have been directed to monitor and prevent biomass burning in parks and other areas.
Rai also mentioned that the situation is expected to improve after November 27, as the onset of winter usually leads to an increase in biomass burning. “We have discussed the future outlook as well. For the next two days, the situation is expected to remain the same. However, after November 27, there is a possibility of light rain and increased wind speed, which could help alleviate the pollution,” he added.
According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR-India), the air quality in Delhi remained in the ‘very poor’ category on Friday, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of over 350 in several areas. The overall AQI for the capital was recorded at 388 at 7.55 am.
(Note: This article has been sourced from a syndicated feed and has not been edited by NDTV staff except for the headline.)
