As Delhi’s air quality continues to deteriorate, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has stepped up its war on pollution, announcing the formation of 58 teams to monitor industrial units across the city to guarantee compliance with environmental standards.

The announcement was announced on Wednesday evening during a review meeting chaired by Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai. Officials from the Environment Department, Delhi Pollutant Control Committee (DPCC), Delhi State Industrial and Economic Development Corporation (DSIIDC), and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi attended the conference to explore how to reduce pollution in the national capital. “Inspectors will conduct frequent checks on industrial units to guarantee compliance with environmental standards, and reports will be submitted to the environment department.

According to Rai, 1,901 industrial units have already switched to Piped Natural Gas (PNG) in an effort to reduce pollution from Delhi’s industrial operations. The remaining units must utilize only allowed fuels, and failing to comply with environmental regulations would result in sanctions, he explained. He also stated that the city’s Winter Action Plan, which was released on September 25, has a special emphasis on lowering pollution during the winter months. 

To this end, 191 patrol teams would be deployed around Delhi to guarantee efficient industrial waste disposal. Noncompliance with environmental regulations by any industrial unit will result in severe penalties imposed by the relevant department, the Minister added.

DELHI AIR QUALITY STILL ‘VERY POOR’

On Wednesday, despite a modest improvement, Delhi’s air quality remained in the “very poor” category. The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) reported till 4 p.m. on Wednesday was 352, down from 373 on Tuesday, 381 on Monday, and 382 on Sunday. However, according to the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi’s air quality remains the third worst in the country.