NEW DELHI: In a push to tackle air pollution in the capital, the Delhi government is likely to roll out micro-level interventions — strict dust control at construction sites, regular tree cleaning, and employing mechanised sweepers to clean inner roads and narrow lanes. A meeting between Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa and representatives from premier institutions such as IIT-Delhi, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Clean Air Collective was held at the Delhi Secretariat, according to a statement issued on Saturday.
During the meeting, experts stressed the importance of sustainable urban mobility, controlling construction dust, and implementing data-driven air quality interventions, the statement by the Delhi environment ministry said.
They advocated for the fast-tracking of electric vehicles (EVs) in public transportation and the removal of old and polluting vehicles from the city’s roads.
A key highlight of the discussion was the expansion of the Delhi Metro network with the goal of ensuring that every citizen has access to a metro station within 400 metres of their residence.
Officials said this would strengthen public transport infrastructure and reduce dependence on private vehicles, thereby cutting down air pollution.
The experts also called for prioritising EVs during new vehicle registrations and taking stringent action against aging vehicles that contribute significantly to the city’s air pollution.
They suggested that rigorous implementation of these measures could bring about substantial improvements in Delhi’s air quality, it said.
At the micro-level, experts proposed strategies such as strict dust control measures at construction sites, regular cleaning of trees to prevent dust resuspension, and deployment of small mechanized road sweepers for cleaning inner roads and narrow lanes.
Sirsa informed that many of these suggestions are already part of the Delhi Government’s future plans and their implementation would begin soon.
He also emphasised the need to protect children from the adverse effects of air pollution during peak pollution periods and suggested changes in the school calendar accordingly.
Notably, the discussion highlighted that construction dust alone can account for nearly 30 per cent of particulate pollution in Delhi. The minister said the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) is actively working on curbing this through its dedicated portal.
Experts also underscored the need for data-based evaluation of dust control strategies and called for a comprehensive overhaul of the city’s parking policy to address urban congestion and related pollution.
To strengthen pollution monitoring, it was proposed that Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems be installed at Delhi’s border entry points to block the entry of unfit and polluting vehicles.
Other key recommendations included improving coordination among agencies, upgrading air quality monitoring systems with advanced technology, and enhancing the capacity of municipal departments to respond effectively to air pollution challenges.
“We are fighting a war against pollution to ensure clean air for our children. This is not just an environmental issue, it is a moral responsibility. Many of the suggestions shared today are already part of our action plan, and we will actively consider the others,” Sirsa was quoted as saying in the statement.
“We will fight this battle using science, technology, policy, innovation, and people’s participation. Every small step matters,” Sirsa said in the meeting.
He further added that the Delhi Government will work closely with scientific institutions, civil society, and citizens to develop sector-specific action plans with real-time monitoring systems as part of the “Viksit Delhi” (Developed Delhi) vision.
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