Red Light On, Gaadi Off: Check Delhi Govt’s Campaign To Curb Pollution

New Delhi: It’s that time of the year when Delhi and NCR prepares for the worst vis-à-vis air pollution.

As a preventive measure, the Delhi government on Friday announced a month-long ‘Red Light on, Gaadi off’ campaign to curb vehicular pollution from October 28.

Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that drivers will be urged to turn off their vehicles while waiting for traffic signal to turn green. The initiative was first introduced just ahead of Diwali in 2020.

The government will deploy 2,500 civil defence volunteers at 100 key traffic intersections to monitor implementation of the initiative.

Rai said at a news conference that specialists believe that if the wind direction changes after Diwali, Delhi’s pollution level may rise.

“Delhi’s government is on high alert. All of the recommendations made by the Commission for Air Quality Management are being rigorously followed by us. Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal evaluated the 15-point action plan’s implementation on Friday,” Rai said.

According to the Environment ministry, vehicle emission is one of the main contributory factors in Delhi’s pollution menace, along with dust and biomass burning.