Environment ministry holds meeting on air pollution ahead of U-17 World Cup

NEW DELHI: The Union environment ministry recently held a multi-stakeholder meeting to look into ways to tackle air pollution, as Delhi braces for another spike pollution levels this winter.

Pollution levels in NCR peak during winters because of emissions from additional sources like crop residue and stagnant air preventing the dispersion of pollutants.

With Diwali scheduled to be celebrated on October 17 this year, the ministry is already pushing the message of “Say No to Crackers” among school children.

This winter India will also be hosting the FIFA U-17 World Cup between October 6 and 28, with matches scheduled to be held in Delhi, Chennai, Pune, Mumbai, Margao, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Kochi and Guwahati. This will be the first FIFA event hosted by India.

Environment minister, Harsh Vardhan, presided over the meeting that was attended by representatives from the industry, civil society and academia, where both short term solutions and long term strategies were discussed.

CR Babu, from the Centre for Environment Management of Degraded Ecosystem at University of Delhi recommended planting of tree species that have a high pollution absorbing capacity and to improve plantation cover in open areas and other barren industrial areas. He also favoured the revival of sprinkler system in the short term.