Hussain asks other states to check paddy stubble burning

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 12

In what appears to be a prudent move, the Delhi Government writes to its counterparts in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh asking them to take preventive measures to check air pollution from paddy stubble burning — which becomes a major concern, especially in the national Capital during the winter days.

In a letter addressed to the environment ministers of the neighbouring states, Environment Minister, Delhi Government, Imran Hussain referred to the National Green Tribunal and Delhi High Court’s directives saying that they have also from time to time directed the neighbouring states to submit an action plan to prevent air pollution caused due to crop burning there.

“With the onset of winter, Delhi faces a critical phase of air pollution due to adverse meteorological conditions like low wind velocity, wind pattern and low temperatures, etc. which aggravate air pollution levels, specially concentrations of particulate matter like PM2.5 and PM10 in the city’s air,” wrote Hussain to Punjab Chief Minister and Environment Minister Amrinder Singh, Vipul Goel (Haryana), Gajendra Singh Khimsar (Rajasthan) and Dara SIngh Chauhan (UP).

A detailed analysis of ambient air quality data shows that the particulate matter, like PM 2.5 and PM 10, gaseous pollutants, like NO2 and CO, secondary pollutant, like ammonia show an increasing trend in October and November which coincide with agricultural/crop burning in neighbouring states, Hussain added.

He requested the neighbouring authorities concerned to ensure necessary steps to be taken towards preventing and containing air pollution in Delhi-NCR resulting due to crop remains burning.