Air pollution in Delhi: Cong pulls up 'habitual' AAP

With Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal blaming the neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab for the rising air pollution in the national capital, the Congress Party on Sunday alleged that it has become the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government's habit to blame others for everything.

Congress leader Tom Vadakkan told ANI there is an element of some kind of problem from the neighbouring state but charity has to begin from the house.

"The Environment Department of the Delhi state should be more activated and the Health Minister should be more active. There are issues concerning Delhi which need to be immediately taken into consideration, emergency steps must be taken. Yes, they can talk to the neighbouring states through the Central Government but to blame the entire thing on the neighbouring states is not fair," he said.

Kejriwal had earlier blamed the practice of crop burning in Haryana and Punjab for the pollution in the national capital, as air quality in the city dips to its worst in 17 years.

"I saw smoke across Punjab, Haryana during my visits. We need Centre's help. We are hiring an agency in a week or two to study the sources of pollution in Delhi afresh. The Centre needs to intervene," he said.

Kejriwal has called for an emergency meeting this afternoon to take stock of the recent measures announced to combat the soaring pollution-level in the national capital.

Technologies like jet sprinkling and the dust sweep machine will be discussed at length during the meeting to be held at Kejriwal's residence.

This development comes in the wake of the Centre calling a meeting of Environment Ministers of all neighbouring states on Monday to put an end to crop burning as Delhi's pollution rises to alarming level.

Kejriwal had met Union Environment Minister Anil Dave yesterday and sought the Centre's intervention following which the latter declared an emergency situation in Delhi.

This development comes in the wake of the Centre calling a meeting of environment ministers of all neighbouring states on Monday to put an end to crop burning as Delhi's pollution level rises to alarming levels.