AAP leader Gopal Rai said he had requested a meeting with central agencies. | Representation
Delhi’s pollution problem can be solved only through teamwork, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Sunday, while urging the Centre to give permission for artificial rain during winter when air quality levels in the city plummet.
Addressing a press conference, Rai said that while the Delhi government has taken several steps to tackle the problem, pollution levels in and around the national capital have increased in November.
“There has been an emergency situation in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The Kejriwal government is working to reduce pollution levels. Ever since our government came to power, pollution levels have come down,” he said.
But in November there will be a rise in pollution levels, he said.
“Last year, IIT-Kanpur had submitted a proposal for an artificial rain or cloud seeding experiment to be conducted in Delhi. They said that financial and security management permissions were required. Last year, there was very little time, so the permissions could not come.
“We had a meeting with experts and I wrote to Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav and sought the Centre’s help,” he added.
Rai said he has requested a meeting with central agencies and experts from IIT Kanpur to discuss the artificial rain proposal.
“To use the technology in Delhi, permission is needed from the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs, SPG, Delhi Government, Airports Authority of India, IMD, CPCB, ASI, BCAS and Uttar Pradesh government. We are ready to give money and permission from our side, but we need support from the Centre,” he said.
Rai wrote to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav last week, urging the Centre to convene a meeting with all stakeholders to assess the feasibility of cloud seeding to artificially induce rainfall in Delhi to combat winter air pollution.
In his letter, Rai said it was imperative to evaluate cloud seeding as a possible emergency measure.
At a press conference on Sunday, Rai said tackling the pollution problem requires teamwork and support from the Centre and neighbouring states.
He cited several measures, including procurement of electric buses and increasing green cover, taken by the Delhi government to reduce pollution in the city.
“If the other two parties have suggestions to reduce pollution, we will be happy to implement them,” he said, referring to the BJP and Congress.
The BJP on Saturday slammed the Delhi government, accusing it of resorting to “political tricks” and “card games” with the Centre over the issue of air pollution, instead of taking concrete steps to address the health risk.
The ruling AAP party has denied the allegation.
First published: September 1, 2024 | 1:43 PM IS
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