In a significant push to tame Delhi’s notorious air quality crisis, the government unveiled six new Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Systems today. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta led the launch, simultaneously dispatching the innovative ‘Vayu Rakshak’ electric vehicle fleet to frontline pollution combat.
Presiding over the ceremony, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced via social media that these monitors will vigilantly track PM2.5 and PM10 levels. The 35-EV strong fleet, supported by 100 air guardians, acts as a mobile strike force, scanning live data from streets to suburbs and clamping down on violations instantly.
The expansion brings Delhi’s total air monitoring stations to 46, scattered across critical zones for comprehensive coverage. This upgrade enables precise identification of pollution hotspots, facilitating targeted interventions like dust suppression and traffic management.
Key installations include JNU, IGNOU, NSUT West Campus, Akshardham CWG venue, Delhi Cantt CWG site, and Talkatora Garden. Sirsa contrasted this proactive stance with predecessors’ inertia, underscoring the administration’s resolve to implement tangible fixes.
The Vayu Rakshak initiative bridges the gap between fixed monitors and on-the-ground action, promising agile responses to seasonal smog threats. As the city grapples with health impacts from toxic air, this fleet could revolutionize enforcement.
Public response is optimistic, with calls for integration with apps for citizen reporting. Analysts note that enhanced monitoring data will bolster legal cases against polluters and inform GRAP stages more reliably. Delhi’s cleaner air journey gains momentum.