'Clean air campaign shows qualitative impact on Delhi air quality'

The Environment Ministry today said the 'clean air campaign' in Delhi had shown a "qualitative" impact on air quality in the first week and that nearly 2,000 'challans', amounting to over Rs 50 crore, were issued for pollution-related violations.
This campaign was launched jointly by Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on February 10.
Seventy teams comprising officers of the Environment Ministry, Delhi government, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and municipal corporations made an initial visit to their respective areas on February 10.
The day-long visits started from February 12 except on February 11 which was a Sunday.

The teams have so far reported 4,347 cases of violation and issued challans in 1,892 cases, amounting to Rs 54 crore, the ministry said in a statement.
It said the data collated by the CPCB show that air quality which was in the very poor category at the beginning of the campaign, remained at moderate level from February 12-15 and at poor level on February 16, 17 and 18.

There has also been a noticeable reduction in levels of pollution, particularly in comparison to the level on the same day in 2017.
There were no moderate days of air quality last year. Even on February 16, 17, 18 this year, there has been a reduction in pollution levels, the statement said.

According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the campaign resulted in a significant reduction in the level of air pollution vis--vis the business as usual scenario.
The lessons learnt from the campaign will be used to further strengthen the activities related to mitigation of pollution, besides addressing knowledge gaps on the basis of wide-ranging consultations held during this period with all stakeholders, the ministry said.
The Clean Air Campaign will continue till February 23.