Delhi government sets up 24x7 'Green War Room' to tackle winter pollution

The Delhi government has set up a 24×7 'Green War Room' to enhance the execution of its 21-point winter action plan aimed at curbing pollution in the national capital, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Monday.

Addressing a press conference, Rai said that a team of eight environmental experts will manage the war room, which has been assigned seven key responsibilities.  A new task assigned to the war room this year includes analysing drone mapping and conducting real-time source apportionment studies, Rai said.  "The war room will also analyse satellite data of stubble burning, along with information from 13 pollution hotspots," said the minister.

Additionally, it will monitor AQI (Air Quality Index) data and assess information from 24 pollution monitoring stations managed by the Delhi government, he said.

Regarding the use of artificial rain to reduce pollution, Rai said that he would again seek approval from the central government, as his previous request had not received a responded to.  On September 1, Rai requested the Centre to permit artificial rain during the winter, when the city's air quality deteriorates significantly.