Authorities in Delhi are setting up a central hub to track air and water pollution. This is a move away from seasonal and temporary systems used earlier. The new system aims to manage pollution in a more organised and long-term way.
As per the report of Hindustan Times, the Integrated Command Control Centre (ICCC) will be set up at Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s IT Park in Shastri Park, the same building where the Delhi Pollution Control Committee works. A tender has been issued, and construction is expected to take four months. Officials aim to complete it before this year’s winter season.
Also Read | Jasmine Sandlas goes viral after unexpected on-stage act—watch what happened
Funding and scope
As per the report of Hindustan Times, the ICCC has a budget of ₹2 crore for its monitoring systems. This is part of a larger ₹300-crore anti-pollution plan by the Government of Delhi.
Environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the plan will use technology to control pollution. He added that 22 new ideas and technologies will be tested to help reduce pollution. Sirsa further stated that "the ICCC will provide a central location to monitor technology using AI-driven dashboards and innovations that simplify data analysis and use".
Data integration and technology
According to an unnamed government official, "the ICCC will bring real-time pollution data from various government portals and websites, and integrate them with artificial intelligence under one dashboard."
The official further noted that "the ICCC will draw pollution data from construction sites through the existing dust portal, get real-time data from industries through continuous emission monitoring systems, data from Delhi's 46 air quality stations, as well as from the VAHAN portal," adding that mechanised sweepers and the government's VAYU Rakshak vehicles, among others, will also be trackable.
Satellite data from ISRO and CREAMS, along with scientific data and forecasts from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune, will also be incorporated, as cited by Hindustan Times.
Applications being integrated
According to the report of the Hindustan Times, key component of the ICCC is integrating government applications that deal with pollution-related complaints, thus allowing coordinated on-ground efforts. Platforms being connected include the Green Delhi app, the DPCC self-assessment portal, the Central Pollution Control Board's Sameer app, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi's 311 app.
According to the unnamed official, "data exchange and system interoperability will be done through secure APIs built and maintained within the AI-enabled ICCC integration framework."
Complaint handling and field coordination
As per the report of the Hindustan Times, the public helpline and a physical help desk will be set up at the ICCC, allowing residents to call or visit and lodge pollution-related complaints with the government.
According to the unnamed official, "once a complaint is received, our teams coordinate and monitor with on-ground officers. We will be able to see in real time where VAYU Rakshaks are and which one is closest to the problem site, for immediate action." All complaints made to the helpline or physical help desk will be addressed on a real-time basis.
Also Read | Robot Navy Is Here: Why The Future Of Naval Warfare Has No Crew
Previously, Delhi relied on a temporary "Green War Room" set up seasonally at the Delhi Secretariat, with no permanent infrastructure in place for air pollution monitoring.
