Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood announced Friday that 10,000 classrooms will receive air purifiers. The installations aim to provide clean air for students across the city. Tenders for this initial phase were floated on the same day.
Classroom Air Purifier Initiative
Minister Sood detailed the plan during a press conference. The government seeks to address pollution through administrative reforms and policy measures. The program will install air purifiers in schools in a phased approach.
Delhi currently operates 38,000 classrooms. The initial phase targets 10,000 classrooms for air purifier installation. The Minister stated, "We want our children to study smart and also breathe smart air."
Official data indicates Delhi has 1,047 government and government-aided schools. This initiative represents a significant step towards improving air quality within these educational facilities.
Broader Pollution Control Measures
Beyond classroom air quality, the government outlined wider pollution control efforts. The Public Works Department (PWD) will procure mechanical road sweepers. These sweepers will be deployed in each assembly constituency.
The procurement of road sweepers will be funded by the environment cess. Minister Sood, who also oversees urban development, confirmed this funding source.
Additionally, funds are being allocated to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for procuring mechanical road sweepers. These efforts aim to reduce dust pollution on city roads.
Context of Delhi’s Air Quality
The issue of air pollution remains a significant challenge for Delhi. Minister Sood acknowledged that weather conditions in surrounding states influence Delhi’s air quality.
Previous efforts to combat pollution have included schemes like the "Odd-Even" rule. The Aam Aadmi Party government first introduced this scheme in 2016. It restricted private vehicle movement based on registration numbers. The scheme ran from January 1-15 and April 15-30 in 2016, targeting vehicular pollution.
Government Commitment
Minister Sood reiterated the government’s commitment to eradicating pollution. He assured Delhi residents that "all possible steps" are being taken. These measures are expected to yield visible results on the ground soon.