Delhi is Almost a “Gas Chamber”, Says Kejriwal, NCR Concerned

Vehicles ply on smog covered street in New Delhi on Saturday. (Photo: PTI)

The Centre needs to intervene to mitigate the alarming levels of smog, which have virtually turned Delhi into a "gas chamber", mainly due to farm fires in neighbouring Punjab and Haryana, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday.

Pollution has increased to an extent that outdoors in Delhi are resembling a gas chamber. Prima facie the biggest reason seems to be burning of stubble in agricultural fields in Haryana and Punjab in huge quantity.

Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung called for a high level meeting on serious condition of air pollution.

Environment Minister, Anil Dave also announced a meeting of the NCR states on Monday.

Also Read: Doctor’s Orders: Here’s How To Avoid The Effects Of Air Pollution

Kejriwal pitched for providing alternatives and incentives to farmers so that they discard the traditional practise.

He said shutting down schools isn’t feasible nor are vehicle restriction measures like odd-even schemes to bring down smog as initial studies suggest that the "large scale" influx of pollutant-laden smoke from Punjab and Haryana has aggravated the situation.

The Centre can sit with the Chief Minister of these states and chalk out a solution. Few reports have put the volume of stubble being burned at around 16-20 million tonnes. Fireworks during Diwali marginally added to the pollution. But other things inside Delhi did not drastically change. So the smog is mainly due to smoke from farm fires.

Kejriwal identified the main sources of pollution inside Delhi as vehicles, dust and waste burning, which he said could not be responsible for the pall of smog across the city.

Also Read: Your 8-Point Guide to Surviving Delhi’s Deadly Pollution Crisis