Delhi Air Pollution: CM Arvind Kejriwal Announces 15-Point Winter Action Plan, Says Pollution Levels Declined in National Capital Due to Government Initiatives

New Delhi, September 29: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said pollution levels declined in the national capital due to government initiatives as he announced the winter action plan to curb pollution. The number of days witnessing severe pollution levels declined in the last eight years due to several initiatives of the government, such as the introduction of electric buses and the EV Policy, among others, he said at a press conference. Parineeti Chopra and Her Husband Raghav Chadha Pose With CMs Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann (View Pic)

Announcing the winter action plan, Kejriwal said the Pusa biodecomposer that prevents stubble burning will be sprayed on 5,000 hectares of farmland this year against 4,400 hectares last year. The Pusa biodecomposer, developed by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) here, is a microbial solution that can turn paddy straw into manure in 15-20 days. The government will deploy 530 water sprinklers to prevent dust pollution and 385 teams will check vehicles' pollution certificates and prevent the plying of overage cars. Arvind Kejriwal Residence Renovation: CBI to Probe Alleged Irregularities in Construction of New Residence for Delhi CM, Say Sources

In 2018, the Supreme Court banned diesel and petrol vehicles older than 10 and 15 years, respectively, in Delhi. It had added that the vehicles plying in violation of the order would be impounded. A 2014 order of the National Green Tribunal bars vehicles older than 15 years to be parked in public places. Kejriwal said burning garbage in the open is banned in Delhi and 611 teams will monitor its implementation. He also urged people to download the Green Delhi mobile application and report any pollution-causing activity to the government.