Prakash Javadekar said that to reduce vehicular pollution, a switch to BSVI vehicles will help
New Delhi:
The number of “bad air days” in Delhi has dropped by 70 days since 2016, the Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said today, even as Delhi’s pollution is steadily increasing.
When interacting with people during a Facebook Live event, Javadekar said that days of poor air quality have dropped from 250 in 2016 to 180 this year in Delhi.
“We (BJP) came to power in 2014 and started to keep this count (of bad air days) from 2016. In 2016 Delhi used to have 250 bad air days and now it has been reduced by 70 days to 180.” says the minister. .
In June last year, the minister had said: “The number of days of poor air quality in Delhi in 2016 used to be 246, and in 2014 it used to be around 300, in 2017 it was down to 213 and now it is down to 206. “
Speaking about the annual peak of pollution in Delhi, he said that burning stubble for 40 days adds to the problem. He said that Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are also responsible for the toxic air in the capital.
Delhi adopts various ways of tackling pollution, such as the odd-even vehicle scheme.
Last year, the Supreme Court detained the governments of Delhi, UP, Punjab and Haryana as the capital battled the longest streak of dangerous air in two years.
Even in 2018, the air in Delhi had plummeted to the “most severe emergency” category the morning after Diwali.
Mr Javadekar said that 50 pollution control teams have been sent to UP and Haryana to control the burning of stubble.
Vehicle fumes, as well as industrial and construction emissions, also contribute to smog in Delhi.
The minister also said that to reduce vehicle pollution, switching to BSVI vehicles will help.
The government introduced BSVI fuel that reduces vehicle emissions by up to 60 percent. The subway and electronic buses have been introduced to reduce vehicular pollution, he said.
Mr. Javadekar also said that continued efforts are needed to address the pollution problem.
“The pollution problem cannot be solved in one day. Continuous efforts are needed to address every contributing factor,” the minister said.
Prakash Javadekar also added that an urban forest plan for more green areas in cities has been started, adding that the 15,000 square kilometer tree cover has increased in the last year.
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