With winter settling in and Delhi-NCR’s air quality worsening, the Delhi government has announced a month-long anti-open burning campaign aimed at curbing pollution.
This initiative, likely to begin on Wednesday, will see increased enforcement and awareness efforts across the national capital.
The move follows a meeting led by Delhi’s Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, who convened key stakeholders and officials on Tuesday to review the Winter Action Plan.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led government has expressed its commitment to tackling the growing pollution crisis with this coordinated approach.
The anti-open burning campaign will run until 6 December, and it promises to be one of the most comprehensive enforcement drives yet.
A total of 588 patrolling teams, composed of personnel from various government bodies, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, New Delhi Municipal Council, Delhi Development Authority, and the Revenue Department, will be deployed across the city.
Their mission is to monitor construction sites, prevent open burning, and educate farmers on alternatives to stubble burning.
Minister Gopal Rai stated, “Beginning Wednesday, the campaign will be led by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Revenue Department, New Delhi Municipal Council, Delhi Development Authority, Irrigation & Flood Department, and Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation, with 588 teams across these departments for coordinated action.”
He further emphasized that these teams will be on the ground around the clock to prevent open-burning incidents.
In addition to enforcement, the campaign will also focus on reducing the need for biomass burning.
To this end, government departments have directed construction agencies and Resident Welfare Associations to provide electric heaters to security guards, an effort to reduce the temptation for open burning to stay warm during the colder months.
Delhi Urges BJP-Run States To Strengthen Pollution Control Measures
The Delhi government has also urged neighboring states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, which are under BJP rule, to bolster their pollution control measures.
Rai pointed out that a joint effort across state borders would have a much greater effect on reducing pollution levels in the region.
This campaign is part of a larger, 21-point Winter Action Plan announced by the Delhi government.
The new plan expands last year’s 14-point strategy with more stringent measures, including drone surveillance, anti-dust campaigns, and enhanced road-sweeping operations.
The plan also calls for increased use of road-sweeping machines and other emergency tactics to mitigate the pollution levels.
Rai highlighted that collaborative efforts, such as discussions with Punjab’s Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, have already led to a significant reduction in stubble burning incidents.
According to Rai, stubble burning in Punjab has decreased by 50% since AAP took charge in the state, underlining the importance of inter-state cooperation in addressing the pollution problem.
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