New Delhi: With the festivals of Dussehra and Deepavali just ahead and in light of the effect of farm fires, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Monday said that next two weeks were crucial for the city that has put into force phase two of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to tackle "very poor" air quality.
Earlier today Rai chaired a meeting at the Delhi Secretariat to take stock of the deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR and said special teams will be deputed to identify and inspect local sources of pollution, reports Dynamite News correspondent.
"The next 10-15 days are crucial and we are trying to do better than previous times," Rai told the media.
Rai also said that the Delhi government had reached out to neighbouring states on stubble burning, which contributed to the high levels of pollution. "We have spoken to the environment ministers of the surrounding states and they have assured that they will take action on stubble burning... Due to Diwali, stubble and Dussehra, the next 10 to 15 days are very crucial for Delhi..." Rai said.
Addressing media persons after today's meeting, the environment minister said that eight more pollution hotspots other than the existing 13 have been identified, in the city and a special team will be deputed to identify and inspect local sources of pollution.
"There are 13 pollution hotspots in Delhi. Today, 8 other points, including Shadipur, Mandir Marg, Patparganj, Sonia Vihar, and Moti Bagh, witnessed AQI levels above 300 today due to local reasons. Special teams will be deputed here to identify and inspect local sources of pollution there," Gopal Rai said.
The overall air quality in the national capital on Monday morning was recorded in the 'Very Poor category', with the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 306 against 302 recorded on Sunday afternoon, as per SAFAR-India. (with Agency inputs)
