“Air pollution is a north India problem. AAP, Delhi government or Punjab government are not solely responsible. Now not the time for blame game,” said Kejriwal in a joint press conference with Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann.
The Delhi chief minister announced that primary schools will remain shut from tomorrow. “We’re taking all steps to control the pollution situation. In lieu of that, we’re shutting down all primary schools in Delhi from tomorrow. They will remain shut till the pollution situation in the national capital improves,” the AAP leader said.
In addition, outdoor sports activities for students above class 5 will be restricted.
Air Quality in the national capital continued to remain in the “severe” category for the second straight day on Friday.
Kejriwal added that if needed, the Delhi government will once again bring the odd-even scheme. “We’re also mulling whether the odd-even scheme for vehicles should be implemented,” he mentioned during the press conference.
The Delhi CM Kejriwal accepted that stubble burning happening in Punjab is AAP’s responsibility since its government is there. He, however, assured that stubble burning will be significantly reduced in Punjab by next year. “It has only been six months that AAP formed government in Punjab. We have initiated necessary steps but six months is not enough. Stubble burning will be down by 2023,” Kejriwal said.
“More quantity of stubble due to bumper paddy crop in Punjab; promise to find solution by November next year,” chief minister Mann added.
“We are taking steps like there are 1.20 lakh machines to bury stubble. Panchayats have also passed resolutions to stop stubble burning. We promise by November next year, stubble burning will reduce,” he stressed.
Soon after Kejriwal’s press conference, environment minister Gopal Rai ordered 50 per cent staff of the Delhi government to work from home and said an advisory will be issued to private offices to follow suit.
“At a meeting with departments concerned, it has been decided that 50 per cent staff of government offices will work from home from Monday and an advisory will be issued to private offices to follow suit,” Rai said.
Rai said a six-member team comprising senior officials has been set up to monitor the implementation of the curbs on anti-polluting activities.
Meanwhile, the BJP accused the Delhi government of registering ‘bogus’ construction workers and siphoning off money meant for them for AAP’s party-related work.
In a joint conference with party MP Manoj Tiwari, BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s intent and integrity was polluted.
Patra termed it the biggest corruption case in India as far as construction workers were concerned. He said three NGOs working for construction workers alleged massive corruption in their registration through proxies.
Earlier on Friday, the Supreme Court agreed to examine on November 10 a plea seeking urgent steps in connection with air pollution in Delhi.
On Friday morning, the air quality in the national capital jumped to 472. In Noida and Gurugram, it stood at 562 and 593 respectively — an abnormially high level. It meant that the people were effectively breathing smoke.
In some pockets of the city, the index exceeded 800, according Delhi Pollution Control Committee findings.
According to SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research), the stubble-burning contributed 34 per cent in Delhi’s PM 2.5 pollution.
Air Quality Index (AQI) from 0 to 100 is considered as good, while from 100 to 200 it is moderate, from 200 to 300 it is poor, and from 300 to 400 it is said to be very poor and from 400 too 500 or above it is considered as severe.
Alarmed by abnormally high levels of air pollution in Delhi, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on Thursday evening banned the entry of diesel trucks carrying non-essential goods into the national capital.
The world’s most polluted capital is blanketed in smog every winter as cold, heavy air traps construction dust, vehicle emissions and smoke from the burning of crop stubble in neighbouring states to clear the fields for the next crop.
– With agency inputsWatch Air pollution: Delhi, Punjab not solely responsible, says CM Arvind Kejriwal
