Use public transport once a week to check pollution: Kejriwal tells Delhiites

New Delhi : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday appealed to the public to adopt three-step measures to bring down pollution in the national capital including taking a mode of public transport once a week, putting off vehicle’s at red lights and report unauthorised fire burning to a Delhi government mobile app.

The chief minister noted that the pollution problem could be tackled through active participation of the people.

“It is necessary that every individual takes responsibility and contributes to the three measures to tackle air pollution in the winter season. Delhi Government is starting the ‘Red Light On Vehicle Off’ campaign from October 18. I urge people to participate in it by putting off their vehicle’s engine on the red lights. Experts say keeping vehicle engines off at red lights could save Rs 250 crore and reduce pollution by 13-20 per cent,” he said.

The CM also urged people to use public transport or carpool to avoid the use of their own vehicle at least once a week. “One can take bus and metro or even use carpool just once a week as an effort to lessen the burden of vehicular emission,” Kejriwal suggested.

Meanwhile, he also appealed to the people to install the Green Delhi mobile app and report unregulated fire incidents there. “Garbage burning becomes a significant factor in contributing to air pollution in winters. Become eyes and ears of the Delhi government by reporting such incidents so that it could be checked,” the CM added.

He also noted that pollution caused locally was in safe limit but stubble burning in other states was increasing it.

“I have been tweeting air quality data for the past one month. It shows pollution has started increasing because neighbouring states did not help their farmers who are forced to burn paddy straw stubble,” Kejriwal added.