Congress leader called the Delhi Chief Minister a “liar” and Javadekar accused him of playing blame games over pollution levels.
NEW DELHI| The National Capital is filled with toxic gas as the air quality is crossing the “severe” mark. According to the recent report from the Lodhi Road area, Air Quality Index crosses 500 this morning. Delhi has been declared on the “severe+” category. This has caused the Health Emergency in Delhi from Friday. The Environment, Pollution and Conservation Authority (EPCA) declared a public health emergency across the National Capital Region, with pollution levels entering the “emergency” category for the first time since January.
Major pollutants PM 2.5 at 500 & PM 10 at 500 remain in 'severe' category in Lodhi Road area, according to Air Quality Index data. Yesterday, Environment Pollution (Prevention&Control) Authority declared public health emergency in Delhi due to rising air pollution levels. pic.twitter.com/K8ZWjRCHPi
— ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2019
The Authority has advised people not to do any outdoor exercise until further notice. Schools are shut down until 5 November. No permission will be given for construction and bursting crackers in Delhi. The government has suggested people wear a breathing mask and to be indoors. The odd-even scheme will also be implemented since Monday after the drop in air index.
Air quality in Delhi has plummeted post-Diwali, which Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said was the “lowest in five years”. According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), Delhi recorded an AQI of 412 on Friday morning, which fell in the “very severe” category.
The Delhi CM Kejriwal has blamed Haryana and Punjab Government for forcing farmers to burn the stubble which causes a severe problem in Delhi. Through his twitter account, he has shared videos and photos of Delhi air condition describes Delhi as ‘Gas Chamber‘. He has requested Punjab and Haryana higher authorities to look into this situation.
Pic 1 -26 Sep -clear blue beautiful Del sky
Pic 2 – Del sky today full of smoke from adjoining states
Del ppl making huge sacrifices. Its time Captain and Khattar govts gave specific timelines and milestones by when will they stop crop burning
Why shud Delhi suffer? pic.twitter.com/AQP64jGjIv
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 1, 2019
Data from SAFAR shows that stubble burning in those two states contributed 46 per cent of the haze and air pollution in Delhi-NCR on Friday alone; the highest so far this year.
“The effective stubble fire counts of northwestern India (Haryana and Punjab) is showing an increasing trend and on its peak value of this year (3,178) which has increased its share significantly to 46 per cent,” a SAFAR official was quoted in a report by news agency IANS.
That figure was 24 per cent on Thursday and 35 per cent on Wednesday. In addition, according to SAFAR data gathered between Tuesday and Wednesday, the number of fires had doubled in a 48-hour period from 1,200 to 2,700.
Stubble burning continues in Haryana's Kaithal; Air quality in Delhi continues to be in 'Severe' category. pic.twitter.com/ouUTgHJv7B
— ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2019
Also Read: Air quality ‘very poor’, authorities urge Delhiites to use public transport for next 10 days
However, both Captain Amarinder Singh and Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar have hit back at Arvind Kejriwal’s claims, with the Congress leader calling the Delhi Chief Minister a “liar” and Javadekar accusing him of playing blame games over pollution levels.
Union Environment&Climate Change Minister, P Javadekar: I think it's unfortunate that a CM instead of finding solutions to mitigate pollution is into blame game. Instead of spending Rs1500 cr on ads, if Delhi govt gives it to farmers of Punjab&Haryana, it will be more beneficial. pic.twitter.com/BOmrBjzhx4
— ANI (@ANI) November 2, 2019
Delhi is one of the world’s most polluted cities and each winter, seasonal crop stubble burning, dense cloud cover and smoke from millions of Diwali firecrackers turn its skies a putrid yellow.
As the accusation from Kejriwal continued, Haryana CM Khattar on Friday announced cash incentives for those reporting such incidents and directed officials to encourage farmers to opt alternatives. He directed officers of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department to visit 10 villages where maximum incidents crop residue burning has been reported and ascertain the reason behind it, the release said.
He said a cash award of Rs 1,000 would be given to those informing about such incidents in their area and their identity would be kept a secret, it added.
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