Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday inaugurated the “Innovative Solutions Against Pollution” exhibition at IIT Delhi on the occasion of National Startup Day, underscoring the government’s push to harness startup-driven technologies to combat pollution in the national capital.

The exhibition showcased prototypes of 33 shortlisted solutions selected under an Innovation Challenge announced in June 2025. The initiative is a key component of the Delhi government’s broader strategy to reduce pollution by actively engaging young innovators and startups.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Gupta said the innovative ideas presented by young entrepreneurs reflected a promising and cleaner future for Delhi.

She asserted that the government’s vision is to transform Delhi’s youth from job seekers into job creators. Describing air pollution as the city’s biggest challenge, the Chief Minister said the government has moved beyond temporary measures and is now implementing sustainable, technology-based and time-bound solutions.

She noted that initiatives such as the odd-even traffic scheme and the ‘Red Light On, Engine Off’ campaign were short-term interventions, while the current approach focuses on structured and long-lasting solutions. These include eliminating landfill sites, cleaning the Yamuna river, mitigating dust pollution, and increasing green cover.

Gupta also highlighted that for the first time, 4,200 hectares of ridge area in Delhi have been officially notified as forest land, alongside efforts to develop dense urban forests using indigenous, oxygen-rich tree species.

"Pollution is not limited to air alone but is linked to water, land and overall quality of life, making youth-led innovation critical to addressing the issue comprehensively." She added

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the government working for the past eight months on visible and impactful technological interventions to reduce pollution levels.

He pointed out that Delhi’s air quality is closely linked to pollution across the National Capital Region, noting that emissions from neighbouring areas such as Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gurugram directly affect the capital.

Sirsa said the Delhi government is adopting a multi-pronged and technology-driven approach to tackle air pollution, including rapid promotion of electric vehicles, biomining of legacy waste, and targeted measures to control dust and PM10 pollution.

He added that emerging technologies such as cloud seeding are also being explored, expressing confidence that these initiatives will improve air quality and position Delhi as a model city for pollution control and rainfall management in the country.