Tag: Winter Pollution In Delhi

Arvind Kejriwal Winter Action Delhi Planning Department

Kejriwal To Announce Winter Action Plan To Tackle Air Pollution

By LokMarg

The Delhi Government is tightening its grip on air pollution by intensifying its efforts towards implementing a comprehensive plan to combat winter pollution. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will announce the Winter Action Plan on 29 September, according to an official statement of the state government. 

Providing further information, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said in a statement, “We are preparing a Winter Action Plan to curb winter pollution in Delhi on the basis of reports given by the departments. A joint meeting regarding the Winter Action Plan of all the 28 concerned departments was held on September 14 in the Delhi Secretariat and different responsibilities were assigned to the departments. Instructions have been issued to all construction agencies to strictly follow the norms related to dust pollution.”

In the meeting, officers from Environment Department, DPCC, Development Department, Delhi Cantonment Board, CPWD, DDA, Delhi Police, DTC, Revenue Department, DSIIDC, Education Department, DMRC, PWD, Transport Department, NHAI, Delhi Jal Board, DUSIB, NDMC were present. All departments were instructed to submit detailed action plans under the Winter Action Plan to the Environment Department by September 25.

Environment Minister Gopal Rai said, “Keeping in mind the phenomenon of rising pollution in Delhi during winters, the Delhi Government is preparing a ‘Winter Action Plan’. We conducted a high-level meeting of 28 government departments on September 14th in this respect. In that meeting, all the departments were given a unique goal, to be included in the Winter Action Plan.”

He continued, “Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will present this Winter Action Plan in front of the citizens of Delhi on September 29th, 2023. All the government departments will act in unison in the implementation of the Winter Action Plan to curb the rise of pollution in ensuing winters.”

He also said, “Last year, we worked together with all the agencies involved in the construction business in Delhi to keep a noose on pollution. Today, I am appealing to them to follow the norms related to dust pollution. Action would be taken against all those agencies who violate the law. A separate action plan will be made for 13 hotspots to reduce pollution. This time special monitoring will be done on hotspots to reduce pollution.” (ANI)

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Toxic Water and Filthy Ghats

‘Yamuna Ghats Are Unworthy Of Holding Sacred Chhath Puja’

By LokMarg

Poonam Singh, 47, a Yoga teacher and activist in Delhi, says toxic water and filthy ghats heaped misery on Chhath devotees like her for years

Chhath is considered a Mahaparv or the festival of festivals. However, the amount of pollution we have had to navigate over the years to be able to perform this holy ritual is unimaginable. I stay in east Delhi and I have been holding the Chhath puja for 24 years (since 1997) mostly at Yamuna Pushta area. And not once did I find the Yamuna ghat without toxic waste, filth and muck – absolutely unworthy for holding a religious ritual.

In 2018, I got a chance to perform Chhath at Hrishikesh and I marvelled at the experience. A clean river in its glorious flow can lift your spirits. It makes you calmer as you are not worrying about the toxicity of the water or stepping upon dirt and filth. Last year when Covid happened, many devotees (including me) tried to improvise and recreate small water bodies on our terraces. However, even though the water was clean, the community feeling was missing. People couldn’t meet each other, or guide and help each other in this festival. This year also I am performing the Chhath on our terrace, simply because the condition of the Yamuna is unbecoming of hosting a sacred ceremony.

Singh (seated right) with her family and friends performing Chhath puja at her terrace

I still remember how it used to feel when we had to go through the mud and slush in order to reach the ghat. Since 2016, apart from the dirty water, the air pollution added to the misery; it became unbearable to stand in the water for long stretches of time and inhaling the pungent air. We all could smell the toxic fumes coming from the river.

Plus, there would be too many people jostling for space. My eyes used to burn and water a lot, and I had severe skin irritation the following days. In order to save our health, I used to take clean water from home for the evening and morning arghya (water offering).

ALSO READ: ‘Govts Must Know The Values Behind Chhath’

Only last year I became the president of the Delhi chapter of a Kanpur-based NGO called Paryavaran Suraksha Sansthan and hope that in the future we can take care of the issue of clean rivers and ghats. But it’s beyond the capacity of one NGO to tackle the issue. We need serious, collective efforts. Doing Chhath on the terrace is also no easy task given the pollution levels. So much effort is made to create pandals, install loudspeakers, give a holiday etc. but no efforts are made to give devotees their most basic need: clean water and air.

I somehow feel our lifestyle was earlier closer to nature. As the Chhath festival signifies, the season change was marked with immunity boosting foods and mentally preparing oneself for the bleak, cold winter months ahead. We need to go back to a more nature-friendly lifestyle. Serious dialogues are the need of the hour between government and civil society. Climate change is an issue of serious concern and we shouldn’t take it lightly.

As Told To Yog Maya Singh