Pollution problem can’t be resolved in a day, continuous efforts needed: Javadekar

Source:-https://www.livemint.com

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Sunday stressed on the fact that the pollution problem cannot be resolved in a day and continuous efforts are needed to tackle each of the contributing factors.

Interacting with people during a Facebook Live event, he said the major factors behind air pollution in the country are traffic, industries, waste, dust, stubble, geography and meteorology.

“The pollution problem cannot be resolved in one day. Continuous efforts needed to tackle each contributing factor,” the minister said.

People interacted with the Union Minister sending questions and suggestions with the Hashtag #AskPrakashJavadekar.

Javadekar said e-vehicles are becoming popular and more than two lakh e-vehicles were being used in India currently. “I myself use an e-vehicle. I charge it at my home. I also drive an e-scooty.”

Terming introduction of BS VI compliant vehicle standard since April 2020 across the country as a revolutionary step towards reduction of vehicular pollution the Minister explained that BSVI helped reduce pollution caused by vehicles. BSVI fuel reduces the NOx emission by 70% in diesel cars, by 25% in petrol cars and reduces particulate matter(PM) in vehicles by 80%.

Metro and e-buses have been introduced to reduce vehicular pollution, he said.

The minister said various steps the Central government has implemented to combat air pollution effectively. The number of ‘Good’, air days has increased to 218 in 2020 against 106 in 2016, and number of poor quality air days decreased to 56 in 2020 against 156 in 2016 during January 01 to September 30.

He said people have a big role to play in tackling air pollution and urged them to download ‘Sameer’ mobile application of the Central Pollution Control Board for monitoring pollution levels in different cities.

On Thursday, in view of the upcoming winter season, the CPCB said that it has deployed 50 teams for inspection in Delhi-NCR. The teams will visit Delhi and adjoining and nearby cities such as Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ballabgarh, Jhajjar, Panipat and Sonepat.

The CPCB has also urged the State Pollution Control Board to deploy teams on the field.

Meanwhile, Javadekar said that 95% of air pollution in the city is due to local factors.

He said that offenders, who found bypassing the CPCB directives during the inspection, will be punished.

50 teams of CPCB deployed in Delhi-NCR will inspect pollution-causing activities. 95 per cent of air pollution in the city is due to local factors like dust, construction and biomass burning. All offenders will be punished. We must also do our bit by minimising the use of personal vehicles,” he said.

Even though the central government and Delhi government are making efforts to curb the pollution level, the air quality continues to dip in the national capital for the last one week.

The visuals from Akshardham and near India Gate shows that a layer of haze is lingering in the sky, as the air quality dips in the national capital.

Air Quality Index (AQI) is at 294 in ITO, 256 in RK Puram, 286 in Anand Vihar, all three in ‘poor’ category, according to Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) data. AQI stands at 325 in DTU and 381 in Wazirpur, in the ‘very poor’ category.