“Delhi to use drones for air quality monitoring to curb air pollution during cold months”: Gopal Rai

New Delhi [India], September 5 (ANI): Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Thursday said that the Environment Department will use drones to monitor air quality at pollution hotspots as part of a 21-point plan to curb air pollution during the winter session.

“In a first in Delhi, the Environment Department will use drones for real-time air quality monitoring at pollution hotspots as a part of the 21-point Winter Action Plan to curb air pollution in cold months, announced Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Thursday,” as per a press release from Office of the Environment Minister, Delhi Govt.

Addressing a press conference today at Delhi Secretariat, Gopal Rai said that, 35 departments attended an important meeting regarding the Winter Action Plan to combat air pollution in cold months in Delhi.

“Gopal Rai said that the Kejriwal government will prepare a winter action plan based on 21 focus points to deal with air pollution. For the first time, drone monitoring will be done to reduce pollution at hotspots. Also, a special task force will be formed. The departments concerned have been instructed to submit their action plan on the winter action plan by September 12,” the release stated.

The meeting held in the Delhi Secretariat was attended by officials of the Environment Department, DPCC, Forest Department, Development Department, Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB), CPWD, DDA, Delhi Police, DTC, Revenue Department, DSIIDC, Education Department, DMRC, PWD, Transport Department, Delhi Jal Board, DUSIB, NDMC, etc.

“The Environment Minister said that all the departments concerned have been assigned different responsibilities on 21 focus points, according to which the winter action plan will be prepared,” as per the release.

Environment Minister Gopal Rai gave information about the decisions taken in the meeting through a press conference. He said that all the departments have been directed to submit detailed action plans and suggestions under the Winter Action Plan to the Environment Department by September 12.

“This time, for the first time, pollution will be monitored by drones at 13 hotspots to reduce pollution. Also, a special task force will be formed to prevent pollution. The 2024 Winter Action Plan includes hotspots, vehicle and dust pollution, work from home, stubble and garbage burning, industrial pollution, upgrading the war room and green app, dialogue with the central government and neighbouring states, and preparation for odd-even and artificial rain as emergency measures,” he said.

Gopal Rai said that the government has intensified its preparations to deal with the problem of pollution in the winter season. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, our government has continuously taken strict steps to reduce air pollution in Delhi, resulting in a reduction of about 30 per cent in pollution in the last 9 years.

“The number of good, satisfactory, and moderate category days increased from 110 in 2016 to 206 in 2023,” he said.