Context:

• Recently, the Delhi Government announced a 15-point action plan to address Delhi air pollution during the winter season.

Reasons for Delhi Air Pollution

• Burning of crop stubble: Burning of crop stubble in surrounding Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan is the main reason for Delhi air pollution especially in the winter season. 
• Stagnant Wind: As the winter season sets in, dust particles and pollutants in the air become unable to move. 
  • Due to stagnant winds, these pollutants get locked in the air and affect weather conditions, resulting in smog. 
• Overpopulation:  Another reason for Delhi air pollution is overpopulation in the capital. Over-population only adds up to the various types of pollution, whether it is air pollution or noise pollution. 
• Poor Public Infrastructure:  Investing less on public infrastructure is another reason for air pollution. 
  • In India, investment in public transport —and infrastructure is low which leads to congested roads, and hence air pollution. 
•  Industrial pollution and garbage dumps are also increasing air pollution and building-up smog in the air. 
• Fire-Crackers: Despite the ban on cracker sales, firecrackers were a common sight this Diwali. 

Also read:  POLLUTION AND ITS EFFECTS ON HEALTH

What are the key features of the 15-Point Winter Action Plan to Address Delhi Air Pollution?

Here are the salient features of the 15-Point Winter Action Plan designed to tackle Delhi air pollution;

• Monitoring of Construction sites: The government has formed 591 teams to monitor construction sites, a big source of dust.
• Comprehensive Plan Involving Departments: The plan, which involves 28 departments including environment, transport, traffic police, municipal bodies, and other agencies to check pollution, has been prepared based on reports and suggestions from these departments.
• Controlling Stubble Burning: The plan announced includes several focus areas, including controlling stubble burning, vehicular pollution, open burning, and dust pollution.
  • Bio-decomposer will be utilized in the five thousand acres to curb the practice of stubble burning.
• Checking open garbage burning: It also calls for the formation of special teams to enforce some of the existing bans, such as the one on open garbage burning.
• Identification of Pollution Hotspots: The government has identified 13 high pollution level hot-spots and made special action plans for each hotspot. 
• Dust- Free Roads: In order to maintain dust-free roads, a total of 82 mechanical road sweeping machines and 530 water sprinkling machines will be deployed.
  • During the winter season, 298 smog guns will be in operation on Delhi’s roads.
•  Graded Response Action (GRAP): Strict implementation of Graded Response Action (GRAP) in Delhi, utilizing advance forecasts from the Central Government and Commission for Air Quality Management to control pollution.

• Green War Room: A Green War Room for round-the-clock monitoring, analyzing the daily actions of all agencies, and formulating plans for the next day has been established
• Eco-e-waste park: An eco-e-waste park is being built, with a consultant appointed to expedite its construction.
• Public Awareness Campaign: A plan to launch public awareness campaigns, including ‘Run Against Pollution,’ ‘Red Light On, Gaadi Off,’ to combat Delhi air pollution.
• Establishing a super site: A real-time source apportionment study in collaboration with IIT Delhi and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, establishing a super site at Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya for targeted action.
• Cooperation with Neighboring states: Neighboring states to reduce Delhi air pollution by allowing CNG-based vehicles, transitioning industries to PNG, transforming brick kilns, and banning firecrackers.
• Enhancing Green Cover: Plans to plant 1 crore new saplings to increase green cover in the city.
• Industries will use non-polluting fuel.