CM releases plan to curb pollution

A massive expansion of electric buses, crackdown on polluting vehicles, stricter enforcement at construction sites, cloud seeding pilots, deployment of over 1,000 water sprinklers and 140 anti-smog guns, and six new air monitoring stations—these are among the key steps outlined in Delhi's new air pollution action plan unveiled by chief minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday.

- Jasjeev Gandhiok

Billed as the "most scientific and actionable" road map yet for the Capital's battle against bad air, the 25-point Air Pollution Mitigation Plan 2025 targets seven key sources: dust, vehicle emissions, construction and demolition waste, solid waste, industrial pollution, greening, and real-time monitoring.

"Providing clean air to Delhi's citizens is not optional—it is our duty," Gupta said, releasing the plan at the Delhi Secretariat flanked by cabinet ministers Ashish Sood, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, and Kapil Mishra. "This plan balances enforcement, innovation, and public engagement. This plan is not just a document, but a robust road map to protect the health of our citizens in the coming years. It lays the foundation for a clean, green, and healthy Delhi."

The Bharatiya Janata Party had promised halving Delhi's pollution by 2030 in its election manifesto ahead of the 2025 Delhi assembly polls.

Key measures include deploying more than 5,000 new electric buses and 2,299 e-autos by year-end, installing ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras to keep end-of-life vehicles out of the city, mandatory anti-smog guns at all large commercial buildings, and launching a tree plantation drive that will see seven million saplings planted under the "Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam (A tree for your mother)" campaign.