Greetings, Friends!
You are welcome to a very special video today .
D: We have with us a public representative, your elected politician whom we would like to quiz on important issues.
D:We have with us Delhi's Education Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Manish Sisodia
D: Sir, First of all I would like to ask you, as I was coming here, there was so much pollution on the way.
D: Delhi has become a gas chamber.
M: Yes, Can't even view the way forward.
D: This has now been happening for long. It happened the previous year and the year previous to it.
D: So, my first question will be, What are the various sources of pollution?
D: which you are aware of, the majority sources which cause pollution.
M: The current situation was witnessed even last year.
M: and this has been happening for the last two years that a band of about ten- fifteen days is witnessed.
M: the crop stubble being burnt in Punjab and Rajasthan leads to the enveloping of the pollution layer on Delhi's atmosphere.
M:We feel it is not moving, but it is. It has taken a time gap of fifteen days to move and finally settle on Delhi.
D: Then it should also be in Punjab and Haryana, if the source are those states.
M: Yes, it is very much there in almost the same intensity.
M:It is in Punjab and Haryana; and not just Delhi, it is in Meerut too.
M: In Amritsar and in Agra too.
M:Reports from all places are being received.
M:But maximum reports are being received from Ghaziabad; till Moradabad.
M:Not just NCR, but NCR PLUS is affected from this.
M: There are reasons for this. Earlier on, people used to cut the crops from their roots.
M: Now with the advent of technology, crops are cut not from their roots.
M: and its pipe thus remains on the agricultural land.
M: Earlier it was cut from there, was converted into straw, stored and was used for the benefit of animals.
M: or making paper or many more such things.
M: Now in order to save time and manpower, machines are being used.
M:It is good to use machines if it is for the benefit of the farmer.
M: What is not given a reflection on is its after effect; now it is burnt.
M:Earlier it was a root of only one or one and a half inch which was left.
M: and it would get immersed in the land during tillage with tractor.
M: Now a much longer pipe of two, three or four feet is burnt down. This is the trend of the last two years.
M: Delhi can not help with this. Whatever the major causes of pollution in Delhi are being worked upon and a lot more can be done.
M: This is a new kind of a problem which is a resultant of the use of technology and which has recently been witnessed.
M: The solution lies in the combined efforts of three to four governments.
M:Farmers should be given incentives so that they do not burn their crops.
M:They should cut it and some market value can be derived from it.
M:It could be converted into paper or animal fodder.
M:Right now it is the easiest for the farmer to cut the crop and burn the left over.
D: because that is the cheapest.
M: It is not profitable for them to first cut it, then store it and make it usable and sell it.
M: It is thus required to provide incentive there.
D: Was anything given the last year?
M: No last year it was thought to be a one time problem.
M: because smog of this intensity was never observed before.
M: last year it was a lot. This time we were expecting it to get a little less.
M: expecting a few measures to have been taken or people to have been sensitized, but that has not happened.
D: Do we then consider that the odd even formula will not be very effective provided that it is because of the burning of fields.
M: no, odd- even will not have an effect here.
M: Odd- Even will still help bring relief to people in this situation in Delhi.
M: Traffic situation will improve; a person spending one hour in traffic will spend only 30 minutes.
M: With the reduction in the number of vehicles, Delhi's own vehicle pollution will decrease.
M:The black envelope of pollution will not get affected.
D: Is bringing odd-even in effect a part of the plan?
M: Yes, odd- even is part of the plan.
M: I am accessing data from everywhere from all around Delhi. PM 10 and 2.5 PM; it has a scientific limit. When it crosses 500, it becomes a severe condition.
M: Could also be ultra-severe conditions; these are graded steps.
M: Yesterday it was nearing 500; was around 436-450
M: Today I observed the density visibly increased and a few students were vomiting while travelling in their cars.
M: then I felt that data can be reflected later and schools should be shut first.
D: There are many pollution metres in Delhi, a few of which have touched the maximum limit, that is, 999.
D: Is the 500 calculation localised or centralised?
M: It is the accumulated average of all and various other factors are also involved like the amount of gas, dust, carbon etc.
M: Everything is calculated.
D: Okay, based on that you decide.
M: Today's situation is more severe; that is why more steps are being taken; constructions are not being allowed.
M: And more decisions are being taken. The Chief Minister had a meeting with the Lieutenant Governor; to shut construction sites and the entrance of trucks.
M: The black smog smog combined with the dust is turning more disastrous.
M: It is important to control dust; the black smog will thus be able to move away.
D: Odd- Even is one solution.You have also talked about artificial rain.
M: Yes we have requested the Union Government for artificial rain.
M: The technology required for the same is with the Air Force or any such body . It is not in the hands of the Delhi Government.
D: You can sprinkle water from helicopter.
M: Yes, all that can be done.
M: that is why we want this to be reflected upon. We may share the costs on that.
D: So this is still under discussion. What are the strategies in mind to avoid this happening the next year?
M: All the governments including Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Union government should come together to work on this.
M: Crop burning should stop so that it does not happen the next year.
M: The pollution caused by crop burning in Punjab and Haryana can not be diverted in such a way that Delhi is saved.
D: So you believe that 80-90% of the problem of pollution is because of crop burning.
M: Yes, at least for the band of these 10-15 days. Otherwise Delhi itself is a polluted state.
M: Here, 30% pollution is because of vehicles; 70% is from other sources which includes construction sites and the rest.
M: But all that is non-smoggy.
M: The smog is because of crop burning.
D: The rest of the days, It is Delhi's own pollution!
D: What are the solutions to fight that?
M: It is important to regulate construction sites properly.
M: Because construction causes a lot of dust.
M: We have been very strict in the last few days; where the government is involved we get it immediately stopped.
M: because it falls under MCD and Building Bylaws.
M: This can not happen without the cooperation of MCD and there is a lot of corruption in MCD.
M: They keep allowing construction in exchange for money.
D: I think it is important for people to know what falls under the MCD and what falls under the Delhi Government.
M: Wherever the Delhi government is involved (constructing a school, metro or a bridge), we can remain strict.
M: Wherever the Delhi government's own buildings stand, we can remain strict there as well.
M: that all standard norms should be followed: like how to keep everything covered; how much water to be spent? etc.
M: But the normal household scenario, for example the construction of a house, that this is totally under MCD.
M: Whether that person used the plastic sheet or not.
D: Most of the construction in under their supervision.
For that you can send it to the HTM, the DM
The environment people can also come in
basically in case of emergency anyone can be approached,
but the routine duty, i.e. the field officer
there the field officer is of MCD.
The JE is of MCD, it's his responsibility to check it.
There is India's JE, whatever construction is going on
it's his responsibility to check whether all the rules are been followed or not.
But over there the blueprint is not approved.
The houses are been
M:constructed without the blue print.
M:So, how the rules will get follow?
D: Okay M:So, that's the big problem.
Anyways, The government is passing the bill.
Second thing In Delhi
is the vehicular pollution
and that's very important to control.
And the good thing after the intervention of Supreme court is that
the outsider trucks are sent outside.
So, it has been reduced on big roads a lot.
I believe that we have taken certain initiatives
Like giving promotion to the battery cars
D: What kind of promotions have you given them?
M: Yes, we have got many different schemes in place
like this Incentive schemes.
for people to buy the battery cars.
D: electric cars M: Yes, electric cars
So, that people will buy such, electric vehicles, two wheeler bikes and buy all these, so we want to promote that
M: and this permission, we are giving them the incentives from the Environment department itself.
D; Okay M:So, through that it will increase.
D: Does the general consumer too has any incentive here?
M: yes, the car which are going to get in the market for 2-3 lacs of rupees that car if you are going to get for 1.5 lacs of rupees
or the two wheeler in the market the electric ones if you are going to look at the market rates
or if you want to choose one scooter from the 10 and if one is for 50 thousands the other for 55 k and one for 40k
and suddenly you get to know that there is one battery, whose original price is 40-50k but you are getting that for 20k. Then suddenly you get a big incentive,
Then instead of the petrol one you get this battery vehicle.
D: Where can we look up for all these incentives?
M: These are widely available, you can look for them in the Environment department website.
Its getting regular.
D: so, if anyone wants to see this can visit the Environment department website.
M: yes, can go on the environment department website and there are 2-3 things over there even for the solar promotion.
D: So, you have such incentives even for the solar panels?
M: Even at my house, its there.
D: That means there's incentives for every man.
M: here, I would like to mention that it's not the matter of incentive here
My, house is a Government house, it's a big one. There's a lot of consumption as many people reside there
Inspite of that the bill of such a big house is just 2k. Sometimes its 400rs, sometimes 200rs, the maximum amount is 2k rupees.
The reason behind this is that we have installed the Solar panel.
D:You are talking about this incentive including the initial cost and it will take time to recover?
M: Yes, it will take time
M: Even in that some schemes are made by our power department.
But there is one more thing that we are planning, that in the coming time slowly the public transport and gradually to the other people too we will incentivise.
M: pubic transport will also need to be shifted to the electric system.
D:So, is there any time decided for this?
M: No, now all these are under study.
D: Okay, So it's in the study phase.
M:Yes, so through some experts I'm getting this studied keeping in mind the target of 4-5 years that getting the feasibility studied.
M: so, let that come first, how much capital is required for it, I believe in the coming time Ola/ Uber all these should switch themselves.
D: come to the electric ones.M: even they need to be incentivise
M: So, private car which is running for 2 hours that's not a concern, The concern for me is that taxi which is running for 18 hours and creating pollution
So, if by anyway I can give incentive or by promoting that 18 hours of running Taxi and change it to electric then in one go I'm reducing the pollution of 9 cars.
D: yes Exactly.
So, that we are trying first how can we bring the city's public transport to the electric level.
D: That's really a good idea. In the same way some more people have given in their ideas. I would like to read that.
D: You just tell me how feasible it is and whether it has been done earlier or no?
D: Someone has suggested that to replace the burning of open leaves, you can distribute the biomas stove, so it's by some company, I'll let you know which one later but it will reduce it by 50% .
As in the winter the homeless people burn the leaves, so what do you think it's possible to do this?
M: It's possible but see Nagar Nigam is collecting the leaves for the cleaning purpose and they need to recycle it somehow so they are just easily lightening it. That will not happen with the biomas
M: Let's be practical. It's in his agenda and his duty to collect those leaves and carry it. It even gets sold but inspite of that they just burn it away to avoid the hassle.
In many areas there are such leaves. M:In Delhi when there is extreme cold then some people burn them. It's a very small percentage.
M: If you are going to look at the scale today. I'm not saying that it doesn't harm but if you are going to compare then this lethargic attitude of blaming MC people, even the common people do that.
M: So, that heating purpose of that burning is quite less. Its just for a particular period of maybe 10-12 days where you will find such people taking heat from it.
M: Its for a small period a small section, but it's there.
D: so, it's not so significant.
M: The major burning that;'s happening is in the work of collecting and disposing it off.
D: There's a very strong suggestion of banning the registration of the upcoming diesel cars. So, whatever is the number of car that's there is there.
M: This was done in Delhi, but the flip side is that whoever wants to buy the Diesel cars will buy it from here or Noida or from Gurgaon.
D: okay, so they are buying from there.
M: It's the same, so the Delhi's dealer's selling had stopped and the neighbouring cities' Noida, Gurgaon or Faridabad, there selling increased.
Because this solution is for the isolated locations like Singapore which is surrounded by water.
Or any city whose fencing is very strict you can do there. But here leaving the administrative boundary you will have no idea whether you are in Delhi or Noida or Faridabad or Gurgaon or Delhi.
D: so, people will buy from there.
M: Or else, some decisions we will have to take nationwise.
D: Okay M; If you want to ban the diesel vehicles then it has to be a national decision.
D: Just like the demonetization M: yes, yes. Demonetization like that Dediesel we need to bring a concept for that.
M: I believe suppose It's stopped in Gurgaon then 10 Km away from Gurgaon in some town a dealer will be there.
Now there will be some boundary for Gurgaon so it will start in another district
M: so, this will continue. Car is not a commodity which a person can buy only from Delhi if he wants to buy a diesel vehicle
Then where all in Delhi will you catch hold of them?
It's not possible or ban it, the second perspective that you are saying. Then it will be a ban and a conscious decision to ban the diesel vehicle in Delhi from today!
D; Then entry and Exit will happen. M: Yes then you have to do the entry exit.
as more than half of the trucks which collects the garbage or bring vegetables runs on this only.
So, you are allowing a truck in Delhi but not a poor person who has bought 10lacs -15 lacs' diesel vehicle from Noida and banning it's entry
He will go to the court. So these are national level decisions. You can't take them on the basis of Delhi, Noida, Faridabad.
So, I'm speaking on the basis of it's practical aspect whereas you can do anything in romanticism.
But in the idea to control the pollution, romanticism won't work. In that you need to be practical.
D: Yes, true that.
D: So this was about the pollution and let's go further. In education I've heard there's a lot of work going on.
D: I've also heard that those who are the critics, the BJ supporters are accepting that Manish Ji is working a lot in the education sector.
D: So, in that regards, I've seen pictures of the social networks of big schools and swimming pools.
We keep getting to see these pics, but my question is that, it can even be
possible that these are some handful of 4-5 schools which are renovated and not such good work is happening in the rest of the schools.
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