New Delhi, Delhi has recorded 211 days of good, satisfactory and moderate air quality so far this year, its best performance since 2016, except for the COVID-affected year 2020, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Saturday.
He said the government had announced a comprehensive Winter Action Plan and preventive protocols to sustain the improvement.
The minister said the number of days with poor, very poor and severe air quality had declined from 168 during the corresponding period in 2016 to 79 this year. However, the minister cautioned that the coming winter months would pose a major challenge due to unfavourable meteorological conditions and reduced wind speeds, which can lead to a deterioration in air quality.
Sirsa said the improvement reflected the Delhi government’s sustained efforts to combat air pollution under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s leadership. The government has adopted a coordinated approach to pollution control, with measures including mechanised road sweeping, water sprinkling, deployment of anti-smog guns, road improvement, dust management at construction and demolition sites, stricter monitoring of industrial emissions, prevention of open burning and expansion of electric public transport, he said. He said the government had also strengthened field inspections and accountability mechanisms to ensure compliance with pollution-control norms by government departments and private establishments. He said the government would continue field monitoring, regular reviews, enforcement and public awareness initiatives throughout the winter season.
