All public transport coming from NCR to Delhi should be CNG or electric: Delhi Min Gopal Rai's appeal
Oct 20, 2023
New Delhi [India], October 20 : On Friday, in a joint meeting of Central and NCR State Environment Ministers through video conferencing, Delhi's Environment Minister appealed that all public transport coming from NCR to Delhi should be operated on CNG or electric.
Various issues were discussed in the meeting regarding pollution in Delhi and NCR, said an official statement from the Office of the Environment Minister on Friday.
Environment Minister Gopal Rai stated that he had written to the Union Environment Minister on October 17 to expedite a joint meeting with environment ministers of NCR states to discuss the issue of air pollution in Delhi during the winter season. In which there was an appeal for cooperation from the environment ministers of NCR state on a 7-point suggestion, added the statement.
In the meeting, various issues related to pollution in Delhi and NCR during the winter season were discussed. Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that the problem of pollution increases significantly in the winter season in Delhi. Keeping all factors in mind, the Delhi government has made a winter action plan based on 15 focus points this time, which the government is working on, read the statement further.
The Environment Minister said that according to the CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management) report, the number of good days in Delhi in 2016 was 109, which was 163 last year. The number of good days this year has gone up to 205. He further said that the coming two months are very sensitive in terms of pollution. Whatever guidelines are issued, whether they are of the Central Government, or of the CAQM or of the concerned State Governments, it is very important to implement them properly, otherwise proper results will not be achieved. Therefore, we have to create a proper system so that the guidelines issued can be implemented properly, mentioned the official statement.
Minister Gopal Rai said that Delhi has imposed a complete ban on firecrackers, and the NCR state should also impose a complete ban on firecrackers. The states should also ban the license, production, storage and release of firecrackers from now on. The environment minister stated that the Delhi government is using anti-smog mobile vans to deal with dust pollution, which is getting satisfactory results. That's why the NCR states are also requested to use anti-smog mobile vans in their states.
