New Delhi, Oct 31 (PTI) Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Monday said the Delhi government has resubmitted a file seeking Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena’s approval for the “Red Light on Gaadi off” campaign with evidence that such drives have reduced vehicular pollution in cities in India, the US and the UK.
He also said Punjab would have seen a large reduction in stubble burning if the Centre supported the state government’s plan to provide cash incentive to farmers for not burning crop residue.
Addressing a press conference here, Rai said the LG had put a hold on the campaign and returned the file on October 29 (Friday) questioning the effectiveness of such measures.
“We have answered all queries raised by the LG and resubmitted the file for his approval. Delhi is heading towards an emergency situation. We request the LG to give permission (to launch the campaign) as soon as possible,” Rai said. Under the campaign, first launched on October 16, 2020, to cut down vehicular pollution in the national capital, drivers are encouraged to switch off their vehicles while waiting for the traffic light to turn green.
The minister said a study by the Central Road Research Institute in 2019 showed that keeping the engine on at traffic signals can increase pollution levels by over nine per cent. Another study by the Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA) under the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas at the Bhikaji Cama Place traffic intersection showed that over 62 per cent people started switching off their vehicles after a similar campaign. “We had considered these studies before launching the campaign in 2020,” Rai said. HDFC bank ran such drives at 126 traffic intersections in 40 cities across India on June 5, 2022, he said.
“We also found that similar campaigns were conducted in London, the UK, and North Carolina, the US,” the minister said, adding that the government has sent all evidence to the LG.
Citing data from PCRA, Rai had earlier said if people switch off engines at traffic signals, pollution can be cut down by 15-20 per cent.
According to government estimates, the transport sector accounts for 28 per cent of the PM2.5 emissions in Delhi.
Vehicular contribution also makes up 80 per cent of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide in Delhi’s air. The minister also said that the incidents of stubble burning are increasing. “Along with unfavourable meteorological conditions, it can make the air quality situation worse.” “The Punjab government is doing all it can to reduce stubble burning, but the state would have seen a large reduction in farm fires had the Centre supported the state government’s mega plan to provide cash incentive to farmers for not burning crop residue,” he said in response to a question.
In July, the Delhi and Punjab governments had jointly sent a proposal to the Centre and the Commission for Air Quality Management to help them give Rs 2,500 per acre as cash incentive to farmers in Punjab for not burning stubble.
Farmers say a cash incentive can help them cover the cost of fuel used in operating the machinery for the in-situ management of paddy straw. Along with unfavourable meteorological conditions, paddy straw burning in adjoining states is a major reason behind the alarming spike in air pollution levels in the national capital in October and November.
Farmers set their fields on fire to quickly clear off the crop residue before cultivating wheat and vegetables.
According to the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), Punjab has reported around 14,000 incidents of stubble burning this year so far.
The agrarian state had reported 71,304 farm fires between September 15 and November 30 last year and 83,002 farm fires in the corresponding period in 2020.
Last year, the share of farm fires in Delhi’s PM 2.5 pollution peaked to 48 per cent on November 7. PTI GVS SLB TDS TDS
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