New Delhi [India], June 4 (HBTV): Launching the Air Pollution Mitigation Plan 2025, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday announced that from November 1, only BS-VI (Bharat Stage 6), CNG, or electric commercial vehicles would be allowed to enter the city.

‘From November 1, 2025, any vehicle that comes to Delhi will have to be a BS6, CNG, or EV commercial vehicle,’ Gupta said during a press conference.

The Chief Minister said that the Delhi government's vision is to achieve a ‘Clean Delhi, Green Delhi, Healthy Delhi,’ and the Environment Ministry has drafted the Air Pollution Mitigation Plan 2025 to pursue this goal.

‘Environment Day is very close, and air pollution in Delhi is a matter that concerns all of us. For years, we have been suffering from air pollution. We have a dream – Clean Delhi, Green Delhi, Healthy Delhi. I am very happy that our Environment Department and Minister have drafted a fantastic Air Pollution Mitigation Plan 2025,’ she stated.

Gupta also announced that Delhi would witness its first artificial rain soon, using cloud seeding technology.

‘Very soon, Delhi will have its first artificial rain through cloud seeding,’ the CM said.

She added that the Delhi government would sign Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with scientific organisations to utilise innovative technologies to combat pollution. As part of this initiative, an MoU has already been signed with IIT Kanpur to implement a cloud seeding pilot project.

‘To reduce and eliminate pollution, we will sign MoUs with all our science organisations, which will use their latest innovations to help the Delhi government fight against pollution. For example, the Delhi government has signed an MoU with IIT Kanpur, which is based on cloud seeding and artificial rain, which we have approved to start as a pilot project,’ she said.

As part of dust control measures, Gupta said that mist sprayers would be installed in pollution hotspots, and anti-smog guns would become mandatory on all high-rise commercial buildings above 3,000 square metres.

‘It will be mandatory to install anti-smog guns on all high-rise buildings, especially commercial buildings above 3,000 metres, malls, hotels, etc., and due to this, dust mitigation will be reduced in the entire Delhi,’ she noted.

To monitor end-of-life vehicles contributing to pollution, the CM announced that Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras would be installed at all entry points and petrol pumps across the city.

‘We will install Automatic Number Plate Registration (ANPR) Recognition cameras at all the entry points of Delhi, which will be able to identify end-of-life vehicles. As soon as the vehicle comes in the range of these cameras, it will be known that this vehicle is end-of-life and is spreading pollution, so they will be traced and stopped immediately. These cameras will also be installed at all petrol pumps, and we will be able to detect end-of-life vehicles. Together, we can deal with the big problem of pollution in Delhi,’ Gupta said.

She also announced the launch of the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign starting June 5, with a target to plant 70 lakh saplings this year.

‘We will have to do plantation work on a large scale for green Delhi. The Delhi government will launch a massive Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign from June 5. The target is to plant 70 lakh saplings this year... Our aim is for Delhi to get better air. Delhi air should be good; people should prefer to stay in Delhi instead of going out,’ the CM said. (ANI)