Sisodia seeks central govt’s intervention to end stubble burning

NEW DELHI: Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday appealed to the Centre to “immediately intervene” to put an end to crop residue burning in the NCR to control air pollution.

The appeal came on a day when the state’s environment minister Imran Hussain constituted a six-member team to carry out surprise inspections in the national capital to check violations, which are causing air pollution.

“I appeal to the central government, particularly the Union environment ministry, to immediately intervene and put an end to crop residue burning, direct pro-active measures in other NCR states to bring down the factors contributing to air pollution,” Sisodia said in a statement referring to “alarming” indications regarding northern India heading towards a serious situation of ambient air quality and residents living in a gas chamber.

Sisodia said that air pollution was not a localised problem. “It is beyond any reasonable understanding that why no concrete efforts were made to prevent crop residue (stubble) burning in Punjab and Haryana, despite several assurances by the central government and governments of these states for one full year?” he asked.

“I am constrained to say with anguish that neither the Centre nor the state governments of Punjab and Haryana have taken any step to contain crop residue burning and the people of northern India have been deceived once again,” he said.

Meanwhile, Hussain said that inspections will be carried out to check ground level steps taken by various agencies for prevention, control and mitigation of air pollution in Delhi.

“The minister has also sought the details and schedule of the operation of mechanical sweeping and sprinkling vehicles being operated by government agencies,including Delhi’s Public Works Department ,” the statement read.