Source: Social Media

As Delhi braces for the winter chill, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is taking a bold step to improve air quality by tackling the open burning of waste. The CAQM has issued a new advisory urging all Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and residential societies in the National Capital Region (NCR) to provide electric heaters or other suitable heating options to their security and service staff.

This initiative addresses a common practice in winter—burning biomass and municipal solid waste (MSW) like wood, twigs, and dried leaves—to stay warm. While these practices help keep people warm, they also contribute to dangerous levels of PM2.5 and PM10 pollutants that worsen Delhi's air quality, especially during the colder months.

The new advisory aims to replace open burning with cleaner heating methods, thereby reducing harmful emissions and improving air quality for everyone. By providing electric heaters, RWAs can help prevent the need for burning waste, which not only pollutes the air but also poses health risks to residents.

In addition to the advisory, the Directorate of Urban Local Bodies (GNCTD) and municipal bodies are tasked with spreading the word and ensuring that RWAs comply with the new requirements. They will monitor the situation to make sure that the transition to cleaner heating solutions is effective and widespread.