Delhi smog: Kejriwal unveils slew of emergency measures, cautions citizens
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that Centre and states need to join hands to join the pollution crisis in Delhi instead of pointing fingers and playing politics.
Calling for emergency measures, Kejriwal, following a Delhi Cabinet meeting, said that all the constructions and demolitions will be shut down, including metro constructions, for the next 5 days.
The Delhi CM announced that landfill sites would also be bulldozed.
Asking people to stay indoors, the CM stated that all schools would remain closed for the next 3 days.
“No DG will be used in Delhi for next 10 days except in hospitals and emergency places,” Kejriwal said, adding that the Badarpur power plant would also be shut down.
Stating that his government was considering reimplementation of the odd-even scheme, Kejriwal also announced that streets would be watered every day and that vacuum cleaning of roads would begin from November 10.
Kejriwal also said that the idea of causing artificial rain was discussed in the meeting. However, he claimed that not much relief could be expected soon as crop burning in other states would continue.
Meanwhile, Kejriwal is scheduled to meet President Pranab Mukherjee at 1:30 pm to discuss the issue of missing Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Najeeb Ahmad.
The Centre on Sunday slammed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, stating that only 20% of pollution in Delhi was due to activities in other states.
The AAP government including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had earlier blamed crop burning in Delhi’s neighbouring states for the heavy smog and pollution in Delhi which is causing breathing problems and has led to schools shutting down.
Central Environment Minister Anil Dave said that 80 per cent of Delhi’s pollution was the result of garbage burning in the city. He claimed that by blaming other states, AAP was politicising the issue.
Dave called on AAP to come out of the 'blame game mindset'.
"What help do they need? Tell us. We have provided help time to time. But implementation is state's responsibility," Dave said.
However, Dave defended Kejriwal’s decision to call a Delhi Cabinet meeting at 12:30 pm on Sunday.
Technologies like jet sprinkling and the dust sweep machine will be discussed at length during the meeting to be held at Kejriwal's residence.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday rubbished Kejriwal’s allegations that pollution in Delhi was a result of stubble burning in Punjab, among other states.
Badal said that farmers in Punjab have been provided with mechanised farm equipments. However, he admitted that some farmers may still resort to the old technique of crop burning.
The Centre has called a meeting of Environment Ministers of all neighbouring states on Monday to put an end to crop burning.
Meanwhile, Congress party on Sunday alleged that it has become the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's habit to blame others for everything.
