Kejriwal wants a meeting with Amarinder, Khattar

NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday sought a meeting with his counterparts in Punjab and Haryana to discuss ways to tackle the alarming air pollution levels in Delhi.

In letters to chief ministers of Haryana and Punjab, Kejriwal said governments in the neighbouring states had failed to provide farmers with viable alternatives to stubble burning, a process that leads to air pollution in Delhi.

Earlier this week, the Indian Medical Association said that Delhi was witnessing a ‘public health emergency’ and appealed to the government to stop outdoor sports and other such activities in schools to protect the health of children.

Delhi’s air quality was the season’s worst on Tuesday as the combined effect of smoke from stubble burning and moisture turned the city into what Kejriwal called a “gas chamber”.

“You are aware about the poor air quality in Delhi. It has become difficult to breathe. Delhi has become a gas chamber and I had to order the closure of schools in Delhi to save young children from the adverse effect of poor air quality,” Kejriwal said.

The Delhi chief minister said one of the main reasons for the poor quality of Delhi’s air this time of the year was the stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana. “Farmers are helpless. In the absence of any economically viable alternative, they are forced to burn stubble,” Kejriwal said, adding that the governments had failed to give viable solutions.

Kejriwal also offered to jointly work with Punjab and Haryana to resolve the issue “in a spirit of mutual cooperation in larger public interest”. “I invite you to my office or I can come to you. Please let me know as per your convenience,” he added.