Govt launches anti-open burning campaign to combat air pollution

New Delhi: As air pollution worsens with the arrival of winter, the Delhi government is launching a month-long anti-open burning campaign to address escalating air quality concerns across Delhi-NCR.

Initiated by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the campaign follows Environment Minister Gopal Rai’s comprehensive review of the Winter Action Plan. It begins Wednesday and will run until December 6, with the goal of reducing open-burning activities that contribute to the region’s hazardous air quality.

The government has mobilized 588 patrolling teams across the city, which will monitor open burning activities, inspect construction sites, and promote awareness among residents and farmers. These teams are drawn from multiple departments, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the Revenue Department, the New Delhi Municipal Council, the Delhi Development Authority, the Irrigation and Flood Department, and the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation.

“The teams will work in a coordinated effort to reduce open burning, focusing on 24-hour monitoring across the city,” said Minister Rai.

The initiative is part of a broader, newly expanded 21-point Winter Action Plan, which builds on last year’s 14-point strategy to address winter-specific pollution sources. New measures include the use of drones to monitor stubble burning, increased deployment of anti-dust campaigns, enhanced road-sweeping operations, and stricter regulations on construction sites. Rai stated that the additional points were developed to tackle more diverse sources of pollution and provide a faster response to emerging pollution events.

To mitigate open burning by security guards and other personnel, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), construction agencies, and government departments have been instructed to provide electric heaters to security guards during the colder months. This measure aims to curb the frequent practice of burning biomass for warmth, which significantly contributes to the city’s pollution levels during winter.

The Delhi government has also called on neighboring BJP-governed states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to intensify their own pollution control measures, urging cooperation for a more impactful regional approach to pollution management. Rai emphasized the need for collaborative efforts across state lines, noting that pollution sources often span regions.

Minister Rai highlighted that the initiative builds on successful pollution reduction efforts in Punjab, citing a reported 50% decrease in stubble burning since the AAP government assumed office. He credited this progress to ongoing discussions and action planning with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

These efforts form part of a comprehensive approach to curb winter pollution in Delhi, which consistently ranks among the world’s most polluted cities during the colder months. As the anti-open burning campaign unfolds, officials are hopeful that the combined measures will lead to noticeable improvements in air quality, providing some relief to residents amid mounting health concerns related to air pollution.

(IANS with edits)

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