Quotes
The central government cannot remain silent like this. Artificial rain has now become an emergency need for Delhi,
Rai told journalists
And Atishi misleads on burning and pollution from Punjab. Governance needs honesty and accountability to citizens not misleading and blaming others. A page out of communist propaganda methods. Citizens of Delhi should get together and demand action from state and union government. Their lives and health are getting deeply impacted. Great tragedy,
Pai wrote his post on X (formerly Twitter).
Time has come to carry out artificial rainfall to break the layer of smog. The Government of Delhi, with the help of IIT Kanpur, last year explored cloud seeding as an emergency measure to artificially induce rain and reduce air pollution during such critical periods. This year we started preparations in August to carry out cloud seeding. Despite several requests, the meeting was not held earlier,
Rai said
Weekends usually are good days for us, but we felt the impact of pollution this time, with sales dropping by as much as 25-30 per cent.”
Atul Bhargava, President, New Delhi Traders Association, notedWe usually see an uptick during the winter months as people like to bask in the sunlight. However, given the terrible air quality, they are choosing to stay home. Sales at our open-air restaurants are down by more than 20 per cent, while mall outlets are seeing a 15 per cent fall. We are in the process of fitting all our restaurants with industry-grade HEPA filters.”
Zorawar Kalra, Founder, Massive Restaurants, operator of brands such as Swan, Farzi Cafe, and Bo Tai, saidWe have seen 60 per cent sales growth since last week, but it is all AQI-dependent. People are gravitating towards brands like Dyson, Philips, and Eureka Forbes.”
Citing Nilesh Gupta, Director, Vijay Sales, the report noted
My eyes are irritated and watery, it feels like someone has put chili powder in them,
Javed Ali, an auto-rickshaw driver in the city, said
Woke up with a itchy, painful throat.. even two air purifiers are not making the AQI breathable indoors. Children are breathing in gas chamber."
Delhi residents have been speaking out about the thick smog, with one resident writing on X
Delhi is under GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) Stage IV restrictions, and we are taking every possible step to reduce vehicular and industrial pollution. Restrictions have been imposed on private vehicles and trucks, aiming to curb the number of vehicles entering the city. We are consulting specialists to explore measures to reduce the smog. One of the solutions under consideration is artificial rain, which can help settle pollutants and clear the air,
Rai said
GRAP-IV will remain in force if pollution persists, we will not give any relaxation,
the minister saidIf the central government cannot act, then their (environment) minister should resign,
he addedThe Delhi government is prepared to work alongside the central government, but the Centre must take the lead by convening a meeting involving experts from IIT Kanpur who have conducted extensive research on artificial rain. This requires permission and collaboration from various central departments,
he saidPollution will not stop with advertisements and publicity. To stop pollution, one will have to work 24 hours a day..."
Sachdeva added
I think we all need to wake up now. We are trying to create awareness of wearing masks but there needs to be a concrete solution which only BJP can give,
Manoj Tiwari told ANIPM Modi should intervene, it is his moral responsibility to act. The Centre should take steps to control pollution,
he further saidI request everyone to wear masks for the coming month and in future give a chance to the BJP so that we can keep Delhi away from using masks,
he addedShould it even remain the nation’s capital?”
Calling Delhi "uninhabitable" for three months during winter and "barely liveable" for the rest of the year, Tharoor questioned
Our government has been witnessing this nightmare for years and does nothing about it.”
In a post on X, Tharoor expressed frustration, sayingWe are monitoring everything closely and making decisions on a daily basis. We will consult experts and take all required measures,
he said
My eyes have a burning feeling during these periods of pollution,
said Vikram Singh, 58, an auto-rickshaw driver in central Delhi, who noted that he also tires more quickly