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New Delhi, Oct 26 (IANS) Delhi’s Innovation Challenge to clean the air is becoming a nationwide mission with the receipt of 48 proposals so far – 30 from Delhi-NCR and 18 from other states, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Sunday, as the deadline for sending proposals has been extended from October 31 to November 15.
Sirsa said proposals have been sent from states in the south, east and west, including places like Telangana, Kerala, Pune, Mumbai, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Punjab.
The Environment Minister said about 68 per cent of the entries are related to clean air for the city, while 32 per cent are aimed at reducing polluting vehicles on Delhi’s roads.
The update published on Manthan.GOV.IN, India’s top scientific thought portal, has made it truly a national project, he said.
Sirsa appreciated the diversity of responses and said, “We are working with top experts and real solutions. Young innovators, startups and research teams from small towns and big cities have come forward. This shows how teamwork and science can bring real change.”
To support everyone, the department has responded to all emails within six hours – a record response speed.
Due to overwhelming interest and requests, the submission deadline is now November 15 instead of October 31, he said.
“The key thing is participation. Extending the date allows everyone to participate, test and showcase their solutions – Delhi’s air belongs to all of us, so everyone’s views matter,” Sirsa said.
The challenge asks proponents to come up with easy-to-use, affordable solutions to reduce PM2.5 and PM10 from vehicles and clean city air.
The selection process will consist of three stages. Stage 1: Initial Digital Screening by DPCC; Phase 2: Expert review and testing, Rs 5 lakh for shortlisted teams and Phase 3: Validation by National Laboratories (NPL), Rs 50 lakh for winners with solutions adopted across the city.
An expert technical committee has now been formed to review the applications and ensure top scientific standards, Sirsa said.
“For the first time, Delhi is crowd-sourcing ideas across the country – not just talking about cleaning the air, but implementing solutions 24×7 in every neighbourhood, every day,” the minister said.
He said, “This is Delhi’s fight for clean air at full speed – using science, public support and honest teamwork. The entire country is with us. We are setting an example for every state, every city and the world.”
–IANS
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