Arvind Kejriwal government decides on 6 steps to fight air pollution in Delhi

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia today chaired a meeting with experts and government officials to discuss ways to bring down the pollution level in Delhi.

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Arvind Kejriwal government decides on 6 steps to fight air pollution in Delhi
Photo: Reuters

In Short

  • Manish Sisodia today calls for immediate implementation of 6 steps to check air pollution.
  • Steps taken involve designing a way to control pollution generated.

Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia today called for immediate implementation of six steps to check air pollution in the national capital.

These steps are:
  1. Design and execute induced-draft creation units at five major traffic intersections in Delhi.
  2. Study feasibility of using cow dung, sewage sludge, alum sludge for possible fuel pellets, tiles, bricks or other useful material.
  3. Design an air pollution control system for green crematorium.
  4. Design a way to control pollution generated by brick kilns.
  5. Design a passive venting system for dumpsite.
  6. Design a clean tandoor community kitchen system.

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NEERI TO IMPLEMENT SOLUTIONS

The steps have come after the government studied various reports of Central Pollution Control Board, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) and orders of the National Green Tribunal.

The decision was taken at a meeting which was attended by Delhi's Environment Minister Imran Hussain, officials from the Public Works Department (PWD), the Department of Environment and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).

At the meeting, NEERI was given the charge to design and implement the six solutions that the government hopes will bring down the level of pollution in the city. Sisodia asked the DPCC to work with NEERI on conducting studies.

PILOT STUDY HAS SHOWN RESULTS

In collaboration with the PWD, NEERI will design and execute induced-draft creation units at five major traffic intersections in Delhi. The Industrial Design Centre at IIT Bombay will help NEERI with the design.

Such a unit has the potential to reduce carbon monoxide and particulate emission by 40-60 per cent in a radius of 20-30 metres during peak-hour traffic.

The pilot study executed by IIT Bombay on the JVLR Road had shown a reduction of 55-76 per cent in PM2.5 level and a 73-88 per cent drop in PM10 level.

CREATING GREEN BUFFER ZONES IN CITY

Air quality sensors, anemometers (to measure wind speed) and cameras will be mounted on these units for better mapping which will enable robust data assimilation and analysis.

With the data in hand, the DPCC can start working on creating green buffer zones along the traffic corridors. The DPCC was directed by the CPCB to do the same in a December 29, 2015 order.

These buffer zones will reduce pollution at major traffic intersections using various technology.