To control pollution during the upcoming winter, the Delhi government will provide electric heaters to security guards and staff at over 3,000 Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs). This initiative aims to prevent them from being forced to burn wood, leaves or rubbish to stay warm.
The decision was made during a high-level virtual meeting on Friday, where officials from the Divisional Commissioner's office, the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC), the Environment Department, and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) jointly established a transparent process for heater distribution.
Approximately Rs 4.2 crore from DSIIDC's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund will be spent on this initiative. The Divisional Commissioner will be responsible for its implementation, while the Environment Department will monitor the process. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has also instructed the Divisional Commissioner to conduct a fresh assessment of the RWAs so that more people can benefit from the scheme.
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"Instead of just issuing orders like previous governments, we are providing a real solution," the minister said. "When people have direct access to heaters, incidents of lighting bonfires will decrease, and pollution will also be reduced. Through this initiative, we want to bring about a behavioural change in people, so they themselves avoid lighting fires in the open."
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