The Delhi Government has taken a formidable step in its ongoing fight against air pollution by launching the “Green War Room.” This strategic initiative, operational around the clock starting from October 3rd, is geared towards combating and closely monitoring pollution during the challenging winter months in the capital. The overarching goal of the Green War Room is to provide respite to Delhi’s residents, who often grapple with severe pollution levels.
The 15-Point Action Plan
In conjunction with the Green War Room, the Delhi government has unveiled a comprehensive 15-point action plan, specifically tailored to combat air pollution during the winter season. This plan underscores the urgency of addressing dust pollution and curbing the open burning of garbage, two significant contributors to the city’s pollution woes. To execute this strategy, detailed action plans have been crafted for each of Delhi’s 13 air pollution hotspots, informed by real-time data gleaned from 40 air quality monitoring stations across the capital.
Unveiling the Green War Room
Established in 2020 by the Arvind Kejriwal government, the Green War Room stands as a bastion fortified with cutting-edge technologies designed to combat pollution. It boasts an impressive array of air quality monitoring equipment and a team of experts comprising scientists and data analysts. The War Room’s primary function is to monitor the various factors that contribute to air pollution in Delhi, aligning its efforts with the Winter Action Plan devised by the Delhi Government. For its seamless operation, a dedicated team of 12 members has been assembled.
Inside the Green War Room
The Green War Room utilizes satellite data to vigilantly track Delhi’s pollution status. It analyzes satellite data encompassing elements like neighboring states’ farm fires, pollution levels, and their severity, all in accordance with the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Furthermore, the Green War Room establishes a vital link with the Green Delhi app, allowing citizens to promptly report pollution-related complaints and incidents of garbage burning. It is also tasked with enforcing strict guidelines to combat dust pollution at demolition sites, ready-mix concrete plants, and instances of garbage burning within Delhi’s borders.
A Holistic Approach
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal emphasizes that the winter action plan is anchored in the effective implementation of multifaceted measures. These measures encompass controlling stubble burning, reducing dust pollution, curbing industrial emissions, banning firecrackers, intensifying tree plantation drives, and following the graded response action plan. Notably, the stringent enforcement of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for pollution control in Delhi-NCR is already underway, marked by the stricter imposition of bans on older vehicles when the Air Quality Index (AQI) crosses the 200 threshold.
