It is that time of the year in Delhi again, when there is an air emergency with the air quality dipping quickly and forcing the government to take emergency measures. The Supreme Court had some harsh observations to make in its hearing on November 7.
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News18 caught up with Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai in the aftermath of the SC hearing.
Edited excerpts:
Today, you held the first meeting after the Supreme Court’s hearing. Can you tell us about the decisions taken?
Yesterday, the honorable Supreme Court discussed many factors related to pollution in the whole of North India and gave its order. We had a detailed discussion on the order of the Supreme Court. We directed various departments to implement the orders related to Delhi.
The first one was concerning the smog tower in Delhi. The smog tower was built after the cabinet approved of it. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) Chairman took a unilateral decision to shut it. The Supreme Court has passed orders to reopen the smog tower.
In the same manner, the real-time source apportionment study that was going on was also shut down. Directions have been issued to the environment department and the DPCC to resume the same and, thus, implement the Supreme Court’s order.
The Supreme Court also observed that app-based taxis which are registered outside Delhi can be banned. Directions to the same effect have been given to the transport department.
The Supreme Court also asked what is the impact of ‘odd even’ rule for vehicles? The study reports of the same will be placed in the Supreme Court.
Two important studies have been conducted regarding ‘odd even’. One is a joint study by the Harvard university and Chicago University. The second one has been done by the Delhi technical university. These reports will be placed in the Supreme Court during the hearing on Friday. And after that, we will do whatever the court decides on ‘odd even’.
Is there a question mark now on whether ‘odd even’ will be implemented from November 12?
The government had taken a decision to enforce ‘odd even’, not from November 12, but from November 13-30. Yesterday, the top court has made some observations regarding the same. After that, we have decided that we will place the impact reports in the court. We will wait for the Supreme Court’s orders and only then move forward.
There is a lot of confusion regarding app-based taxis that will be banned in Delhi. When will the ban come into force? What kind of taxis will be banned?
We will implement the Supreme Court’s order. In its order, the Supreme Court has stated that app-based taxis, which are registered outside Delhi, will be banned. We will implement the Supreme Court’s order as it is.
Essentially, taxis with non-Delhi registration numbers will be banned?
Yes. That is what the order has said.
There is a lot of criticism directed at the AAP governments in Punjab and Delhi. Why have you not been able to stop stubble burning?
Yesterday, the Supreme Court made different observations regarding the five states in North India. The Supreme Court has said that the stubble burning, wherever it is happening, must be stopped…be it Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh… The Supreme Court has held SHOs responsible. The Court has directed the DGPs and Chief Secretaries to monitor the same. I hope that wherever stubble burning is taking place will be stopped and Delhi will benefit from it.
Secondly, as far as Punjab is concerned, it has already reduced stubble burning compared to the past years. It has also submitted a proposal in the Supreme Court on how to end the menace of stubble burning. I hope that other states will also have plans to tackle stubble burning in their states and submit their proposals accordingly.
Considering the weather condition in Delhi, the government is keen to make an effort to combat pollution through artificial rain. We have asked the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur to give a detailed proposal tomorrow morning. We will place that in the Supreme Court. If everything goes well, we aim to carry out the pilot project on November 20 or 21. If it is successful, it will be carried forward.
As far as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is concerned, I should really thank the Supreme Court that it has to give directions at least to hold a meeting. The Central government has no responsibility? The Union environment minister has no responsibility? Over the past one week, I have been requesting for a joint meeting so that joint monitoring and joint implementation can happen, now that pollution is spreading in all states. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) keeps issuing directions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), however, these are not implemented. If the Central government takes a constructive approach at least on the Supreme Court’s orders … normally, the focus is on Delhi, that this pollution is a Delhi-centric problem. This is not a Delhi-centric problem. This pollution is an issue in the whole of Northern India.
In Delhi, we are working on our own winter action plan. In Delhi, we are enforcing all the norms under GRAP and we will fully implement the directions of the top court. However, the problem will not be solved if only Delhi is implementing these norms. All governments, whether it is the BJP-ruled governments in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh , or the Central Government, or the Congress government in Rajasthan or our Delhi and Punjab governments, have to be proactive.
The BJP has just one formula to reduce pollution that is bayanbaazi. They ask for reports from everyone else, however, they have no report card when it cones to their own government. They don’t even share what they are doing. They get up in the morning , issue statements and think that pollution levels have decreased.
I hope that after the order of the Supreme Court, all will become proactive and we hope that with the cooperation of all, there will be a decrease in the level of pollution.
Is the Delhi government planning to combat pollution with artificial rain?
Considering the weather condition in Delhi, the government is keen to make an effort to combat pollution through artificial rain. We have asked the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur to give a detailed proposal tomorrow morning. We will place that in the Supreme Court. If everything goes well, we aim to carry out the pilot project on November 20 or 21. If it is successful, it will be carried forward. The IIT Kanpur had first given a presentation on September 12, when the Delhi government had a meeting with the experts.
Every year you issue an winter action plan. What, according to you, is the lapse which has forced you to bring back ‘odd even’?
There is no lacuna in the winter action plan. If you look at the meteorological situation today, the weather condition…it has happened after many years that the temperature is going down and the wind is almost stationary. If you look at the past six years, after the wind is stationary, it starts flowing. The weather changes. The situation that we find ourselves in today has happened after many years. And this is the reason why we have to take many more measures.
When will the situation improve?
As far as the forecast in concerned, for the next few days, the weather condition will remain the same, which is why we are moving towards taking more stiff measures.
What about post Diwali ?
We are hopeful that post Diwali, as the Supreme Court has given directions for a firecracker ban in all states, at least the threat of firecrackers going off in neighbouring states will come down and it will have a positive impact.
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