Stubble burning: Kejriwal questions absence of state CMs at consultations to check Capital’s air pollution

New Delhi, Nov 2: Union Minister of Environment Harsh Vardhan on Thursday held consultations with Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain and other senior officials from neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab to review the deteriorating air quality in Delhi NCR and chalk out a solution,
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal questioned the absence of his Punjab and Haryana counterparts at the high-profile deliberations.
Mr Harsh Vardhan said that similar to last year this time, there will be a campaign for the same problem and around 70 teams will be in field to deal with the situation.
For now, the situation does not seem to improve and there is no chance of Delhi air quality to get better in the next few days, he said adding that efforts were on to curb the problem.
Taking to Twitter, Mr Kejriwal questioned the absence of the CMs of the northern states concerned at the key consultations.
‘Why didn’t ministers from other states attend? Its a collective problem and I urge everyone to please work together. Only then can we find a soln’, the Delhi CM tweeted.
Mr Harsh Vardhan said that green crackers had been introduced ahead of the Festival of Lights, Deepavali, keeping in view the stifling air pollution in the Capital which has assumed monstrous proportions.
‘We are working on stopping crop burning and holding talks with the states concerned,’the Union minister added.
Mr Harsh Vardhan also said that there should be no politics over pollution, as it was a serious issue.
‘We have given financial as well as technical support to bring down the incidence of stubble burning,’ the Union minister added.