The Asian Age

Punjab, Haryana mantris skip key pollution meet

Don’t politicise issue: Vardhan Seriousnes­s is needed to deal with the issue of increasing pollution in the capital Imran Hussain,

- AGE CORRESPOND­ENT

# Mask4Life. It’s time we take steps on our own to fight this ( sic),” he tweeted.

Mr Goel, who wore a mask himself during the protest, said Delhi’s air pollution could not be blamed on stubble by farmers in states alone.

“As per TERI reports, 60 per cent of the sources of Delhi’s pollution are located within the city,” he said. burning other Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday slammed the Punjab and Haryana government­s for claiming that there is no stubble burning in their states, saying that they should refrain from giving irresponsi­ble statements. Mr Kejriwal also questioned the absence of the environmen­t ministers of the neighbouri­ng states in a crucial meet called by the Centre to discuss the poor air quality in the national capital.

Farmers in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh burn their paddy stubble every year during early winter, which leads to severe smog conditions in the Delhi- NCR region.

“Punjab and Haryana government­s’ claim, that there is no stubble burning in these states, is wrong. Satellite images show stubble burning, especially in Punjab. I appeal that politician­s not give irresponsi­ble statements,” Mr Kejriwal said.

The environmen­t ministers of four neighbouri­ng states including Punjab and Haryana, where stubble burning is rampant, did not take part in the meeting called by Union environmen­t minister Harsh Vardhan. Instead, they sent their officials to attend the meet. Ministers of Uttar

Delhi minister

Pradesh also did meeting.

Mr Hussain, who was the only minister to attend the meeting, said neighbouri­ng states of the national capital need to take the air pollution issue “seriously.” Calling Delhi’s air pollution a regional problem, Mr Hussain asked for cooperatio­n from all the neighbouri­ng states in combating the deteriorat­ing air quality.

However, Union environmen­t minister Harsh Vardhan said the issue of air pollution should not be “politicise­d” and that everyone should give their full cooperatio­n to protect the environmen­t.

He also flagged off 52 teams, which would monitor violations that may result in the rise in air pollution in Delhi. and not Rajasthan attend the

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— AP
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