Ahead of winter when the pollution level is likely to spike, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Thursday held a key meeting with the governments of Delhi and the neighbouring states on the action plan to mitigate air pollution caused by stubble burning.
The minister said discussions were held over implementation of action plans by states to mitigate pollution due to agriculture stubble burning, dust, construction and demolition waste, biomass burning and vehicular pollution, and noted that air pollution in NCR is a “cause of concern” although its sources are diversified.
“Outcome of the action plan will significantly depend on the efficacy of the enforcement and implementation by the states,” the minister said. The minister said coordination and synergy reflected in the action plan by each state under the overall framework prepared by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
Management of agriculture stubble burning (Parali) was discussed at length during the meeting, the minister said while briefing the media about the meeting. Burning of stubble during the period of September and October has been attributed to poor air quality of the regions, which get aggravated due to local meteorological conditions in NCT. This has been observed in last few years, the minister said. “Measures which are at various stages of its implementation, but will help in providing an enabling environment towards abatement of air pollution in Delhi-NCR, include in-situ management of stubble by bio-decomposition in large scale by Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi and Punjab, mandatory use of bio-mass with 50 per cent paddy straw as a supplement fuel in thermal power plants in NCR,” he added. The meeting was held with Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, environment ministers of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and senior officials from Punjab and ministries of Agriculture, Power, Animal Husbandry and all other stakeholders for improvement of air quality in Delhi-NCR which tend to aggravate during the winter season.
Tweeting about the meeting later, the minister said, “Chaired a meeting with Haryana CM Shri @mlkhattar ji and Environment Ministers and senior officials from neighbouring states on the preparedness and taking ahead the multi-pronged action plan on air quality. Addressed issues requiring inter-state & inter-ministerial coordination.”
