Arvind Kejriwal govt's '8 mantras' to fight air pollution in Delhi: In pics

Delhi: The Arvind Kejriwal-led government has introduced several measures in the last few days to tackle air pollution in the national capital. They have taken steps like starting an anti-dust campaign, using the bio-decomposer technique for stubble burning, launching the electric vehicle policy, announcing the tree transplantation policy, etc, under its 'Yuddh. Pradushan ke Viruddh' anti-pollution campaign.

(ANI photo) 

As per the World Air Quality Report, India is the fifth most polluted country in the world, and around 21 of the most polluted cities in the world belong to India based on the average PM concentration levels in the air throughout the year.

Source: IQAir (World Air Quality Report 2019)

The tree transplantation policy of the Delhi government mandates 80% of the trees affected by construction and development activities must be transplanted, along with 80% out of them surviving after a year. This is in addition to the mandatory requirement of planting 10 saplings in case one tree is cut for construction purposes, which has helped increase the green cover in Delhi.

To reduce pollution in the city, the Delhi government is also setting up a smog tower at Connaught Place which will distribute clean air in the national capital.

Recently, a fine of Rs 1 crore was also imposed by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee on North MCD for its negligence regarding garbage burning in Kirari area.

In an effort to reduce the contribution of vehicular emissions to Delhi's PM2.5 concentrations, the Delhi government has introduced the new EV policy. The government is providing subsidies and incentives on their purchase to promote large scale adoption of EVs.

Since thermal energy is one of the most polluting sources of energy, the Delhi government has also shut down two thermal plants in the city, and has also appealed to the other states to shut down 11 thermal power plants around Delhi which continue to be one of the major causes of pollution.

The Delhi government has developed a bio-decomposer solution under the guidance of Pusa Agricultural Institute. The liquid solution, which was primarily developed and tested by the Pusa Institute, has been accepted as a viable alternative to stubble burning by the Delhi government. The solution can be sprayed on the fields after harvesting to turn the hard stubble and straw into manure. The solution will be provided to the farmers of Delhi and sprayed on their farmlands by the Delhi government, without the farmers having to bear the cost of the same.

CM Arvind Kejriwal has also appealed to other states to use this solution as a sustainable alternative to stubble burning. Along with stubble burning in other states, Delhi cannot ignore its local sources of pollution such as vehicular emissions.

Anti-smog guns have been deployed at large construction sites amid rising pollution levels in the national capital. Over 10 anti-smog guns have been installed for dust control.

A war room to monitor all anti-pollution measures has also been set up, along with a Green Delhi App where people can report pollution-causing activities in the city. The War Room will monitor the progress of the measures daily, and the daily reports will be personally analysed by CM Arvind Kejriwal.