Amid swirling smog clouds enveloping North Delhi, ‘Operation Clean Air’ kicked off with aggressive inspections, leading to numerous cases filed against garbage burners. This targeted enforcement aims to dismantle one of the city’s most insidious pollution culprits before winter fully grips the region.
NDMC teams, numbering over 100 personnel, blanketed neighborhoods from Ashok Vihar to Adarsh Nagar, extinguishing fires and documenting violations with video evidence. Penalties were swift: over 25 challans issued on Day 1, with repeat offenders facing vehicle impoundment.
Why now? Meteorological data shows inversion layers trapping pollutants, amplifying the impact of every smoldering heap. Health experts from AIIMS warn of impending surges in asthma and bronchitis cases, disproportionately affecting children and the elderly.
On the ground, reactions were mixed. ‘Finally, someone’s doing something about the stench and smoke ruining our mornings,’ shared homemaker Priya Sharma from Tri Nagar. Yet, sanitation workers complain of overburdened systems: ‘We collect daily, but mountains of plastic pile up overnight.’
The campaign dovetails with national efforts like the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which mandates 20-30% pollution reduction by 2024. Innovations include bio-enzyme cleaners to break down waste without burning and partnerships with startups for methane-capturing landfills.
Looking ahead, success hinges on enforcement continuity and public buy-in. With GRAP restrictions in play, Operation Clean Air sets the stage for a multi-pronged assault on Delhi’s air woes—proving that vigilance, not just vigilance alone, can pierce the haze.