In a major push towards cleaner air and sustainable urban living, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday unveiled a comprehensive 25-point Air Pollution Mitigation Plan 2025. The ambitious plan focuses on reducing pollution from dust, vehicles, waste, and industrial sources while promoting greenery and clean technologies across the capital.
“This is not just a document but a roadmap for a clean and healthy Delhi,” said Gupta at the launch event, reaffirming her government’s promise to halve Delhi’s pollution by 2030—a key pledge in the BJP’s 2025 election manifesto.
Key Measures Under the Plan:
Electric Vehicle Push
The city will roll out over 5,000 electric buses and 2,299 e-autos this year. New EV charging stations will be installed at markets, malls, metro stations, and airports. Automatic cameras will detect and block old polluting vehicles from entering the city, and only BS-VI, CNG, or electric commercial vehicles will be allowed under strict CAQM rules.
Dust and Waste Control
To tackle dust pollution, Delhi will deploy over 1,000 water sprinklers and 140 anti-smog guns, monitored via GPS and CCTV. Night cleaning will expand with 200 mechanical sweepers and 70 electric litter pickers. Construction sites over 500 square metres must register with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and follow a 14-point dust checklist. The city’s construction waste recycling capacity will also increase by 1,000 tonnes daily.
Tree Plantation and Greenery Boost
A massive green drive under the campaign ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ will plant seven million saplings citywide. Government projects are now mandated to use 100% recycled building material.
High-Tech Air Quality Monitoring
The government will launch AI-powered pollution monitoring tools, GPS-tracked operations, and cloud computing systems. Six new air quality monitoring stations will be built, and a real-time pollution source identification study will be initiated. A Startup Innovation Challenge will also encourage fresh low-cost pollution control solutions.
Cloud Seeding for Artificial Rain
In a pioneering move, Delhi will test cloud seeding to induce artificial rain and reduce dust levels, in partnership with IIT Kanpur. This marks the city’s first attempt at using weather modification as a pollution-fighting tool.
Landfill Management and Waste Segregation
Legacy waste from the city’s largest landfills Okhla, Bhalswa, and Ghazipur will be cleared by 2028. Housing societies are being urged to segregate waste at the household level and switch from biomass to electric heaters during winter to reduce smog.
Public Participation: ‘Environment Doots’
The government is inviting citizens to become ‘Environment Doots’ (Environment Messengers) volunteers who will raise awareness and act as pollution monitors in their communities.
This far-reaching action plan comes at a critical time when Delhi regularly records dangerous levels of air pollution, impacting public health and urban living standards. The success of these measures will depend on strict enforcement, public cooperation, and technological innovation to steer the city toward a cleaner, greener future.