Farm fire share in Delhi’s pollution but opposition parties are in denial: Gopal Rai

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Monday focused the BJP and the Congress on the problem of stubble burning, saying the share of farm fires in Delhi’s air pollution has soared to 40 per cent however the opposition events are in denial.

According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences’ air high quality monitor, SAFAR, the share of stubble burning in Delhi’s air pollution rose to 40 per cent on Sunday, the utmost up to now this season.

It was 32 per cent on Saturday, 19 per cent on Friday and 36 per cent on Thursday, the second highest this season up to now.

“We have been saying it again and again that stubble burning is a major reason behind severe levels of pollution in Delhi around Diwali, but the BJP and the Congress say the share of farm fires in Delhi’s pollution was just 4 to 6 per cent, whereas statistics show it has increased to 40 per cent,” Rai informed reporters in the course of the launch of “Red Light On, Gaadi Off” marketing campaign in all 272 wards of Delhi to curb vehicular air pollution.

He mentioned the Delhi authorities has been doing every part attainable to curb biomass burning, and vehicular and dirt air pollution, “but what should we do about stubble burning?” Last yr, the stubble contribution to Delhi’s air pollution had peaked to 44 per cent on November 1, in response to SAFAR knowledge.

NASA’s satellite tv for pc imagery confirmed a big, dense cluster of fireside dots masking Punjab and components of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Rai mentioned air air pollution mixed with the Covid-19 pandemic may be “catastrophic” and strict motion on the bottom was extra essential than creating new commissions The Centre launched a brand new legislation not too long ago by way of an ordinance that put in place a robust Commission for Air Quality Management within the National Capital Region and adjoining areas to curb air air pollution.

On the Rajasthan authorities banning bursting of firecrackers, the minister mentioned, “Pollution is defined by the air shed. There is a need for collective action. In Delhi, it was repeatedly being said that the rising pollution level is due to stubble burning in neighbouring states, and the response we received from the central government and states was that there is no alternative to stubble burning.” In Delhi, the administration sprayed the bio decomposer developed by Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Pusa, in non-Basmati rice fields to forestall stubble burning.

“The preliminary reports have been extremely positive. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will ascertain the ground reality at Hiranki village on November 4,” he mentioned.

“We want to tell the states and the central government that there is no cheaper alternative than this (bio decomposer). We request them to physically witness the bio decomposer at work,” he added.

(This story has been revealed from a wire company feed with out modifications to the textual content. Only the headline has been modified.)

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