App-Based Taxis From Outside Delhi Restricted, Smog Tower To Restart: Environment Minister Gopal Rai

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday (8 November) quoting the Supreme Court's order on app-based taxis said, "The transport department has directed that app-based taxis entering Delhi from outside be restricted. The department will issue a detailed order on the ban.”

Rai said that the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) had been directed to restart the functioning of the smog tower at full capacity by Thursday when the real-time source apportionment study would also resume.

He also added that to deal with local instances of biomass burning, 611 teams of the Municipal Corporation Delhi, DPCC and revenue department teams have been formed and a special drive in this regard will also begin.

Rai stated, "We have met today to implement the Supreme Court's order regarding air pollution in Delhi. I would like to thank the Supreme Court...The Supreme Court has been closed on the orders of the DPCC Chairman I have ordered the smog towers to be activated again."

The minister continued by stating, "Delhi is implementing measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). But governments around us are not doing anything. The focus will now be on implementation in other countries. I'm looking forward to it."

He further stated, "In Delhi, there is a ban on fireworks. I have been asking that the states around us also ban firecrackers. But nobody is willing to listen. It looks like pollution is not important to BJP governments. GRAP orders don`t make any difference to them.”

Delhi's air quality improved slightly on Tuesday (07 November) but remained in the 'very poor' category. It returned to the 'severe' category on Wednesday. At 2 p.m., her average 24-hour AQI was 424.

At a press conference Rai stated, “We have decided to introduce the odd-even system from November 13th. Regarding the theme of odd-even numbers, there were two studies, one from Harvard University and the University of Chicago, and one from the Delhi Institute of Technology. The report will be submitted to the Supreme Court.''

Rai added, "Guidelines for implementing the odd-even scheme will be issued only on the direction of the court."

The AAP minister further said, "It was also ordered to restart the real-time sound source distribution survey, which had also been suspended, and to release the data. The Delhi government is grateful to the Supreme Court in this regard."