Consistent on measures to mitigate air pollution in the national capital, Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta on Monday said pollution control requires sustained, year-round action as she inaugurated six new Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) stations to expand real-time tracking of air quality across the capital.
She also flagged off 100 'Vayu Rakshak' vehicles for stricter monitoring, and enforcement of pollution control norms. The six new monitoring stations set up by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) are located at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Indira Gandhi National Open University, Netaji Subhas University of Technology West Campus (Dwarka), CWD Akshardham, Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya in Delhi Cantt and the Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee Swimming Pool Complex at Talkatora Garden.
Addressing an event at the Delhi Secretariat, Gupta said the government is working towards comprehensive citywide monitoring and long-term policy action to address pollution at its source."Our aim is to ensure that for every 25 sq km area in Delhi, there is at least one air quality monitoring station so that we get complete and accurate data on pollution levels and their sources," she said.
Gupta said Delhi currently has 46 air quality monitoring stations, and 14 additional stations will be installed in the coming phase to ensure full coverage of residential areas, industrial zones, traffic corridors and green belts.
"Pollution is not a seasonal problem. It requires 365-day caretaking, continuous monitoring and sustained action," she said, adding that air safety officers will be deployed for year-round supervision and enforcement.The chief minister asserted that the government is working on strengthening pollution control across sectors, including transport, roads, waste management and green cover. "Clean air is a right, and we are committed to delivering it with seriousness and long-term planning," she said.
Highlighting the works undertaken, she said city has the highest number of electric buses in the country, with 4,200 vehicles currently operational. Criticising previous approaches, Gupta said earlier governments treated pollution as a short-term issue. Referring to measures such as smoke towers and odd-even schemes, she said these were "cosmetic solutions" that failed to address pollution at its root.
Delhi environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who also addressed the event, outlined further steps being taken by the government to strengthen pollution control and enforcement."To ensure strict monitoring, 100 'Vayu Rakshak' vehicles will be deployed across Delhi to check industrial, vehicular, hotel and institutional pollution," Sirsa said, adding that 100 permanent surveyors will also be appointed for year-round physical inspections.
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