As environment minister, what steps did you take to mitigate air pollution? We discussed pollution from neighbouring states — from the 4,000-odd brick kilns in the NCR to burning leaves and crop residue. The states have asked for a subsidy package from the Centre as farmers cannot afford to clean up their crops after the harvest. On burning of leaves, we have inspected 578 sites and challaned 268 people. On dust pollution, 1,367 sites were challaned. Data on common effluent treatment plants will also be online soon. Rajghat and Badarpur power plants will be closed till March 15. The decision on whether they will resume operations will be taken later. We have also asked the Delhi Development Authority to plant trees in O-zone area of Yamuna, to help bring down pollution levels. We have a target of planting 12 lakh saplings in Delhi and, so far, we have planted 10.3 lakh. But this year’s plantation drive is different form the previous years as all the trees we planted are five feet and above. This way, the plants have more chances of survival. I have initiated a plantation drive in all constituencies and we will plant 1,000 trees in each of them. Tree census is also being carried out at an extensive scale. Soon, we will have data of how many trees we have in Delhi. We have also commissioned a third party audit of the tree census.
Since you joined the Cabinet in the middle of the term, what challenges did you face when it came to implementing the ration scheme?
The scheme should be driven by technology to ensure its successful implementation. As part of this, we have introduced the biometric system in all fair price shops across the city to ensure no one misuses ration cards.
As of now, 42 shops have the system in place. In six months, all shops will have it.
There are 42 lakh beneficiaries under the scheme and we will monitor them real time as their biometric print will be connected to their Aadhaar number. We also rolled out the e-ration card system so that people can still get their rations even if they do not get their ration cards.
What are the other schemes you will be rolling out this year?
We will soon launch a portability scheme for ration card-holders. Suppose a customer goes to Delhi Cantonment area, which has 17 to 20 ration shops. If he is not satisfied with shop number A , we will give him the option to choose another shop. He will be given a month’s time for this. Nowhere in the country do people have the facility to choose a shop.
Another scheme that will be rolled out soon is establishing consumer clubs in 100 Delhi government schools. We have tied up with the education department. These clubs will spread awareness among children on rights of consumers and their redressal mechanism.
