#CleanAir: Centre And Delhi Government Join Hands To Fight Against Pollution, Will Soon Launch ‘Clean Air For Delhi’ Campaign

New Delhi: “Pollution is now linked to our national image; it is time to declare #NoToleranceToAirPollution and go for all out efforts to bring it within limits”, says Union Minister Harsh Vardhan. Centre and Delhi government have joined hands and worked out a ‘Clean Air For Delhi’ campaign. In a bid to control the levels of air pollution in the national capital, the two-week long campaign will begin from Saturday (February 10) and will continue till February 23.

On February 6, Delhi’s Environment Minister Imran Hussain, Union Minister Harsh Vardhan and Minister of State Mahesh Sharma attended the meeting regarding ‘Clean Air For Delhi’ campaign. The ministers reviewed the two-week long drill which aims at bringing down the levels of toxic air.

Talking about the campaign and who all will be a part of it, Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday (February 8) said, “Launching a two-week-long intensive exercise to mitigate all sources of #AirPollution in #Delhi, in coordination with #DelhiGovernment. #ZeroToleranceToPolluters now.

Also Read: With Improvement In Technology, Finer Particles May Turn Up As Next Enemy, Say Experts

He further added,

The Delhi government is with us on this one on record. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal personally assured that they are with the Centre on pollution mitigation and the drive.

On the same lines, Minister Harsh Vardhan laid out the plan and said, “#CleanAirDelhi – 70 teams will fan out in every administrative division of #Delhi, monitor causes of #pollution and initiate remedial measures, including penal actions against serious polluters on the spot.”

The 70 teams will have officials from the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, civic bodies, Delhi Police and NGOs. According to the officials, the focus will be on four constraints – dust mitigation, municipal solid waste, vehicular emission and industrial emissions.

Talking about the dust pollution and how the campaign will help in combating it, Minister Harsh Vardhan said,

Every day, about 131 tonnes of dust is generated in Delhi, mostly due to construction activities. Now, we don’t have certain natural factors like dust from Afghanistan under our control, but we surely control local factors and thus this campaign or exercise.

Under the campaign, the Environment Ministry will also focus on workshops on air pollution, including indoor air pollution and health. After the campaign, the Ministry has also planned to focus on state-specific pollution issues.

“#CleanAirDelhi – A strong message has to go down that #pollution is a serious economic and health issue and it is linked to our national image too. We mean business now”, tweeted Minsiter Harsh Vardhan, asserting that pollution has to be dealt seriously now.

The initiative is in line with the air crisis Delhi-NCR faced recently. With air quality oscillating between ‘severe’ and ‘severe-plus’ category, the last few months of 2017 has been tough for people residing in Delhi and nearby areas. From declaring health emergency in the national capital to rise in number of patients in hospitals, from schools being shut to banning construction, from trying to bring in odd-even to banning the entry of trucks, a lot of steps were taken to get rid of the toxic air.

Also Read: Manipuri Cyclist Embarks On A Journey With An Anti-Pollution Message, Pedals From India Gate To Imphal

With inputs from IANS