Local factors behind 95% of Delhi pollution

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 15

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday said around 95 per cent of the air pollution in Delhi-NCR was due to dust, construction and biomass burning, adding that the share of stubble burning was only 4 per cent as on date.

He urged the Punjab Government to check stubble burning while flagging off 50 CPCB inspection teams to keep a check on pollution hotspots during winter.

Noida among Hotspots on the radar

• Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar flagged off 50 inspection teams of the CPCB to keep a check on pollution hotspots during winter
• The teams will visit Delhi and NCR towns Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ballabgarh, Jhajjar, Panipat, Sonepat, Bhiwadi, Alwar and Bharatpur

He said only 4 per cent of the air pollution was due to stubble burning, while around 95 per cent of it was due to local factors like biomass burning, garbage dumping, unpaved roads, dust, construction and demolition activities.

Stop being in denial: Capt to Kejriwal

• Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday asked his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal to stop lying and trying to divert the attention of people from his failure to protect the national capital’s environment
• “If Kejriwal is serious about addressing Delhi’s crisis, he should stop being in denial and get down to the task of finding solutions,” the CM said

The minister also recalled how his throat choked with smoke during a recent visit to Ludhiana. “It is also about the health of the people in the state. The Punjab Government should ensure stubble is not burnt,” the minister said. Punjab and Haryana account for sizeable stubble burning incidents.

Addressing nodal officials of the Central Pollution Control Board teams, he said, “You will work for the next two months and take note of all activities and complaints. You will inspect all factors and have the right to file a report on your observations and strict action will be taken.”

The 50 CPCB teams will make extensive field visits from October 15 to February 28 next year and focus on hotspots. They will visit Delhi and NCR towns Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut in Uttar Pradesh; Gurugram, Faridabad, Ballabgarh, Jhajjar, Panipat, Sonepat in Haryana; and Bhiwadi, Alwar, Bharatpur in Rajasthan

Javadekar said members of the CPCB teams are no less than Covid warriors as they would be visiting and giving feedback from ground zero.

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