In order to sensitize the people of Delhi about the grave issue of air pollution, the government will begin a two-week awareness campaign.
- This is done to make the people know the need to improve the quality of air in the capital.
- The Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan mentioned that the Centre will launch a two-week awareness campaign starting from 10th February in collaboration with Delhi government, New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and other municipal agencies.
- The campaign will help in taking effective steps for pollution mitigation. This may become a template which could be emulated throughout the year.
- The campaign seeks to sensitise the ground-level functionaries and the general public to enforce the habit of environmental protection amongst them.
- Dr Harsh Vardhan emphasised that there will be a team of 70 officers, led jointly by one officer each from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and one officer from the State Government of Delhi. These officers will be assisted by officers from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), DPCC and respective municipal corporations.
- The teams will be provided with checklists so that there is focussed activity on mitigation of pollution, including effective measures for dust mitigation, solid waste management and prevention of garbage burning.
- There was a decrease in the particulate Matter level in New Delhi over the years. The average PM10 level reduced from 310 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3) in 2016 to 260 ug/m3 in 2017. The level of PM2.5 decreased from 120 ug/m3 in 2016 to 101 ug/m3 in 2017.
- Therefore this awareness campaign would possibly help in mitigating problems of air pollutions in the capital.
