Centre’s Role is Dubious: Punjab CM to Modi Over Rising Pollution

‘I have suggested a bonus to facilitate stubble burning, perhaps your govt doesn’t feel it’s right,’ wrote Singh.

Punjab CM Amarinder Singh (right) wrote a letter to PM Narendra Modi.

(Photo: PTI/Altered by The Quint)

As the pollution levels in Delhi remained in the ‘severe’ category for the fifth consecutive day, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday, 2 November, wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for failing to take necessary action to curb pollution.

“I am not writing this to brush my hands off Punjab’s responsibility in this state of affairs. We are to blame but so is rest of country, including Delhi and your govt,” Singh wrote in his letter to the prime minister adding that the national capital is reeling under misery as the governments pass the buck.

Singh also questioned the Centre’s role and said that it was “dubious” as he would have expected the prime minister to take the matter in his hands long back.

The letter comes at a time when the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority has declared a public health emergency in the national capital.

“At my various meetings with you, as you may recall, and also with many of your Cabinet colleague, I have repeatedly suggested a separate bonus amount Rs 100 per quintal to facilitate stubble management by the farmers. Perhaps your government doesn’t feel it’s the right solution.”

Amarinder Singh to PM Modi

Alluding to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s statement blaming the neighbouring states for the rising pollution levels, Singh said that while stubble burning is one reason behind pollution data suggests that multiple reasons like large scale industrial pollution, traffic overload, excessive construction activity in the city is equally to be blame.

Singh said that the national capital has been reeling under misery as the political blame game continues.