Delhi Plans Winter Action Plan on Air Pollution

The Delhi government is formulating its Winter Action Plan to combat air pollution, focusing on strategies such as work-from-home policies, artificial rain, and encouraging the use of electric vehicles. Key measures discussed in an expert meeting chaired by Environment Minister Gopal Rai include staggered office timings, public awareness campaigns, and using CSR funds to provide electric heaters for security guards to reduce biomass burning. Experts from organizations like UNEP, IIT Kanpur, and Greenpeace suggested implementing artificial rain on 'severe' air days. The action plan will address 14 focus points, including dust and vehicular pollution, stubble burning, and industrial emissions. Rai emphasized the importance of behavioral change among citizens to reduce pollution and highlighted improvements in air quality over recent years. A letter will be sent to the Union Environment Minister to discuss artificial rain further.