On Wednesday, Minister of Environment, Government of NCT Delhi, Gopal Rai has accused Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) Chairman Ashwini Kumar of stalling the order for the first study to be conducted by the Delhi government to determine the sources of pollution in the national capital.
Minister Gopal Rai has also written a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal seeking immediate suspension of DPCC Chairman Ashwini Kumar, and strict disciplinary action against him for stalling Real-time Source Apportionment study by IIT Kanpur. Rai has also requested from CM Kejriwal to make payment to IIT Kanpur which has been stopped by DPCC Chairman Ashwini Kumar.
📝 Environment Minister @AapKaGopalRai Writes to CM @ArvindKejriwal seeking
1. Immediate suspension of Ashwini Kumar & disciplinary action, DPCC Chairman for stalling Real-time Source Apportionment study by IIT Kanpur
2. Payment to IIT Kanpur which has been stopped by DPCC… pic.twitter.com/fjlpPhKTNO
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) October 25, 2023
Delhi ministers Gopal Rai and Atishi addressed a press conference on Wednesday over same issue and accused DPCC Chairman Ashwini Kumar of lenient behavious towards pollution in Delhi.
“As a result of starting the Real-time Source Apportionment Study by the Chief Minister of Delhi @ArvindKejriwal and other efforts, pollution in Delhi has been reducing. Despite the Cabinet decision, DPCC Chairman Ashwini Kumar got the study stopped, when Delhi needs that scientific study the most,” said Gopal Rai.
Praising Real Time Source Study, Delhi Minister Atishi said: “There is no official data to know how much pollution comes from which sources in Delhi. To solve this problem – In July 2021, Delhi government took the milestone decision to conduct Real Time Source Study. From which source, how much pollution occurs in Delhi. Such a study has never been done before in India.”
“World Class Cutting Edge Scientific Equipment kept to know the real time source of pollution, which will measure pollution. Second, this study was designed with Advance Chemical Modeling. Due to which it became known where and due to which pollution is occurring, after which it became easier for the Delhi government to make policies. But DPCC Chairman Ashwini Kumar reversed the decision without the minister’s permission,” added Atishi.
