Delhi's air pollution crisis worsens; drones deployed to monitor city hotspots
Delhi air pollution: As Delhi chokes under a thick layer of smog, the government is pulling out all stops to tackle the rising air pollution crisis. In an aggressive step to curb pollution, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced a new initiative on Friday: using drones to monitor pollution hotspots across the city. Rai made it clear that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government is "working day and night" to address the deteriorating air quality, which has become a yearly battle for the capital, especially during the winter months.
During a visit to the Wazirpur industrial area, one of Delhi’s 13 pollution hotspots, the minister explained how drones would now play a crucial role in identifying and tackling pollution sources. "As part of our winter action plan, we are taking various steps to control vehicle emissions, and limit biomass burning," Rai stated while speaking to reporters. "But we know that pollution levels in the 13 identified hotspots remain significantly higher than Delhi’s overall AQI. That’s why we’ve decided to monitor these areas through drones."
The drones, piloted by a special panel agency, will capture detailed aerial footage within a 200-m range, allowing officials to pinpoint the exact sources of pollution. "By using modern technology, we can get a bird’s eye view of the problem areas," Rai explained. "These images will be analysed, and the data will be submitted to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and the Environment Department for focused action."
The situation is grim. On Friday morning, Delhi woke up to an AQI reading of 283, with pollution levels soaring in areas like Jhilmil Industrial Area (288), India Gate (276), and Anand Vihar (218). The smog has reached such alarming levels that even Chief Justice DY Chandrachud raised his concerns during an informal chat with journalists at the Supreme Court. His doctor has advised against morning walks due to the health risks posed by the poor air quality.
Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena has also joined the conversation, writing a letter to Chief Minister Atishi on Thursday. In it, he proposed deploying Civil Defence Volunteers (CDV) to assist in pollution mitigation efforts.
- ANI
