Farmers Movement Archive

CAQM emergency meeting: Delhi Environment Minister proposes work from home in NCR

A day after the Supreme court lashed out at the Centre and Delhi government for severe AQI, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region and adjoining areas on Tuesday held an “emergency meeting” to discuss the dilapidating air quality of the national capital.Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai also asked the Centre to clarify the percentage of stubble burning causing air pollution so that a reliable strategy can be drawn.“In its affidavit, the Centre mentioned that contribution of stubble burning in air pollution is both four per cent and 35-40 per cent. It needs to be clarified. How can both figures be correct,” he said, urging Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav to provide “correct data so that a strategy to combat air pollution can be drawn”. “The strategy that will be formed on the basis of the four per cent figure will yield different results and the strategy formed seeing the 35 per cent figure will have a different outcome,” he added.Rai also cited the figures made public by the Ministry of Earth Sciences’ air quality monitor SAFAR, which showed the fire contribution to pollution from November 4 to 14.Implementing work from home policy in Delhi-NCR and closing down industries are some of the steps suggested by the Delhi government in a meeting, Rai said.Meanwhile, citing the SC observation, BKU leader Rakesh Tikait asked those blaming farmers and stubble burning for air pollution in Delhi to apologise. “Those labelling farmers as villains for air pollution due to stubble burning must apologise to farmers. The Supreme Court has also said it is not right to hold farmers responsible because only 10 per cent of the pollution is caused by stubble and that too for one-and-a-half to two months,” Tikait said. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday had announced various emergency measures, including the closure of schools for a week, a ban on construction activities and work from home for government employees, to deal with the pollution crisis faced by the city. The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Commission to hold a joint meeting with Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.“The other states have also put forth their views and we are waiting for an official notification from the commission,” Rai said regarding the meeting that will lead to the emergence of a joint action plan. Till the filing of this report, there was no official statement from CAQM.The official said the matter involves SC, therefore “due care has to be taken”. The CAQM on Sunday has asked Delhi and other NCR states to prepare to implement emergency measures listed under the Graded Response Action Plan.Vehicular followed by domestic, industries and construction main cause for Delhi pollutionStubble burning in adjoining farmlands is not the only contributor to Delhi’s dilapidating smog. According to a study by the Centre for Science and Environment, vehicles contributed more than 50 per cent of Delhi’s pollution between October 24 and November 8, this year, followed by household pollution (12.5 per cent-13.5 per cent), industries (9.9 per cent-13.7 per cent) and construction activities (6.7 per cent-6.9 per cent). The other contributors, in descending order, are household pollution, industries, construction sector, solid waste, and road dust, it says.

The Tribune

2021-11-17

New Delhi