TIA NEWS / New Delhi
Centre today asked Delhi and its neighbourning States to take immediate action on growing air pollution. Addressing media after meeting the Environment Ministers of Delhi and all neighboring states to chalk out the action plan to tackle the alarming level of pollution in the national capital, Union Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave today said, the problem of air pollution would not stop until state governments take action immediately.
The Minister said, government would issue an environment protection calendar which will be state specific.
He said, around 80 percent of the problem is due to local factors, and only 20 percent is due to neighboring states. Asserting that dust is one of the major reasons of pollution, Mr Dave said states must sprinkle water and do the needful on time. Meanwhile, water sprinkling has begun on roads using Jet pressure pump technique to deal with dust pollution. All schools have been shut down in the national capital for three days and all constructions and demolitions for five days.
The air quality in the city continues to remain in severe category, with the Air Quality Index showing 550 Particulate Matters. Delhi Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung has also called a high-level meeting today on the issue. The Supreme Court will hear a plea tomorrow on the current pollution crisis in Delhi. The plea was filed by the Environment Pollution Control Authority which has sought proper monitoring of the worsening pollution level in the national capital and adjoining areas. Saying that the situation is a public emergency, the plea urged the apex court for stringent action.
Director General at the Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi-based organisation of environmental activists, Sunita Narain said, the Delhi government is coming up with an emergency action plan, but the court should monitor the measures. Agreeing to hear the matter tomorrow, a bench led by Chief Justice TS Thakur said, the court has already passed the orders and they need to be implemented.