Delhi Enviornment Minister Gopal Rai writes to Union minister for urgent meeting ahead of Diwali

As Diwali is approaching, Rai emphasised that the quality of air is likely to turn hazardous in Delhi at the beginning of November and according to him, there is "already" a delay of approximately one month in the efforts for cloud seeding in Delhi.

The letter reads, "We have already had a delay of approximately one month in the efforts for cloud seeding in Delhi and considering that Air Quality in Delhi is likely to turn hazardous at the beginning of November, I once again request you to immediately convene meetings with all relevant stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Government of Delhi, and other concerned agencies which are supposed to issue NOCS for this purpose. This meeting may focus on coordinating efforts to implement cloud seeding as an emergency measure in Delhi."

Rai, in the letter dated October 10, conveyed that the use of artificial rains can serve as an emergency measure to curb the excess pollution in the city, as per the exploration of the Delhi government. He said that various institutions, including IIT Kanpur, prepared a presentation in this regard, which has already been sent to the Union Environment Ministry.

Gopal Rai, in a letter said, "This is to remind you of the concerns raised vide D.O. letter dated 30/8/2024, regarding Delhi's air quality during the winter months, particularly after Diwali, when smog and environmental degradation lead to hazardous air pollution levels and to consider cloud seeding as an emergency measure. The Government of Delhi previously explored cloud seeding as an emergency measure to artificially induce rain and reduce air pollution during such critical periods and noticed that prior clearances from various agencies are required to implement the same."

Highlighting the need to implement cloud seeding, Rai said that prior clearances from various agencies of the Government of India is "prerequisite."

"During 2023, the Government of Delhi attempted to consider cloud seeding as an emergency measure during the days when air quality turned hazardous and a presentation was also made by IIT Kanpur in this regard. It was informed during the presentation that to implement cloud seeding at any particular spot, prior clearances from various agencies of Government of India is also a prerequisite. The copy of that presentation was sent to your office with my DO dated 30- 8-024," the letter added.

On October 9, Gopal Rai held a meeting with government and private construction agencies at Delhi Secretariat to talk about curbing dust pollution.

The Delhi government kicked off their anti-dust campaign on October 7.

"Delhi government is working on a multifold winter action plan. Anti-dust campaign began in Delhi on October 7. On October 7, we went for an inspection and saw that many agencies were not following the rules. They were penalised. There are 120 construction sites in Delhi. Representatives of all of them were called in for a meeting today. They have been given training," he told ANI.

Speaking further on the measures to curb dust pollution, he said, "All the construction work being done in Delhi, whether it is private or government, all agencies' representatives were given the do's and don't, proper training, a toolkit and they were given instructions that they should go on the ground and give training to the workers on the site too. Along with that, the ten agencies who have worked exceptionally to curb dust pollution, we have given them an award to recognise their efforts."

Delhi's multifold winter-action plan is meant to address pollution in the national capital. The national capital's government has also launched a 'Green Delhi' app, started spraying bio-decomposer on the farms of Delhi along with the 'anti-dust' campaign. In the coming days, the government plans to announce initiatives to curb vehicle pollution, bio-mass. (ANI)