Rahul Gandhi urges PM Modi, Kejriwal to rise above blame game on Delhi smog

Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to rise above blame game and act immediately on the rising level of air pollution in the national capital, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said blaming the farmers of Haryana and Punjab won't solve this problem.

"Blaming Punjab/Hry farmers won't solve pollution problem in Delhi. Pl learn from Sheilaji. Rise above blame game Mr Kejriwal &Mr Modi &act now," Gandhi tweeted.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal earlier today announced a list of measures to be enforced by the state government to curb the soaring pollution in the national capital including putting all construction projects across the city on hold for the next five days and ordering the shutdown of all schools for the next three days.

He also stated that the return of the Odd-Even scheme was possible to keep traffic emissions in check, adding the possibility of artificial rain was also discussed in the meeting but it would require Centre's assistance.

Remaining resolute on his stand that crop burning in the neighbouring states was responsible for the ever-increasing pollution level in Delhi, the Chief Minister added that no immediate relief could be expected as stubble burning continued.

Data from System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) on Sunday indicated that the pollution levels were still "severe", with PM 2.5 at 355 and PM 10 at 482. At 9 am, the PM 10 levels at RK Puram was 999, at IGI Airport it was 436, at Punjabi Bagh, 999, Shanti Path area registered 662. The forecast for the next three days was also marked as "very poor".