Adopt long-term measures like cloud seeding to check pollution: Delhi HC to Centre, AAP government

On November 9, the NGT had ordered the government to track down all hotspots with PM10 over 600 units and spray water from helicopters or aircraft to tackle dust pollution across the city.

A NDMC worker sprays water on trees to reduce air pollution in New Delhi (IANS)

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the Centre and the Arvind Kejriwal government to think and implement long-term measures like cloud seeding to check air pollution in the national capital.

The HC asked the bureaucrats associated with the central government and the Delhi government not to stick to short-term measures like spraying of water to tackle pollution level.

Few days back, the Delhi government planned to spray water over the city to try to combat toxic smog that triggered a pollution emergency.

Illegal crop burning in farm states surrounding Delhi, vehicle exhaust in a city with limited public transport and swirling construction dust have caused the crisis, as they do year after year.

On November 9, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) had ordered the government to track down all hotspots with PM10 over 600 units and spray water from helicopters or aircraft to tackle dust pollution across the city.

In October, the Delhi government had also told the central government that it was ready to bear the cost of aerial sprinkling of water in the national capital to help reduce air pollution and had sought its help. 

In the national capital, the content of particulate matter, PM 2.5, in the air has been quite high, often crossing 500, while the safety limit is 50. The PM 2.5 is responsible for respiratory problems and reduced visibility.