Adjoining states should take air pollution issue seriously: Hussain after state mins skip meet

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Thursday questioned the absence of environment ministers of neighbouring states in a crucial meet called by the Centre to discuss the poor air quality in the national capital, as his cabinet colleague Imran Hussain asserted that these states need to take the issue "seriously".

The environment ministers of four neighbouring states including Punjab and Haryana, where stubble burning is rampant, did not take part in the meeting called by Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan, and instead sent their officials to attend the meet.

"Why didn't ministers from other states attend? Its a collective problem and I urge everyone to please work together. Only then can we find a soln (sic)," Kejriwal tweeted after the meeting.

Ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan also did not attend the meeting.

Hussain, who was the only minister to attend the meeting, said neighbouring states of the national capital need to take the air pollution issue "seriously".

Calling Delhi's air pollution a regional problem, Hussain asked for cooperation from all the neighbouring states in combatting deteriorating air quality.

"We have been urging the central government to intervene and give farmers resources so they do not have to depend on stubble burning," he told reporters on the sidelines of the meeting held by Vardhan to discuss measures that could stop further deterioration of air quality in the National Capital Region.

"Today also, you saw that ministers from Haryana, Punjab, UP and Rajasthan did not attend the meeting by the Union Environment Minister. Seriousness is needed to deal with the issue of increasing pollution in the national capital," Hussain said.

The national capital's air quality was on the brink of turning severe on Thursday due to stubble burning in the adjoining regions and unfavourable meteorological conditions, authorities said.

The overall air quality index of Delhi was recorded at 393, which falls in the 'very poor' category and is just eight points from turning severe.

Union environment minister Harsh Vardhan said the issue of air pollution should not be "politicised" and everyone should give their full cooperation to protect the environment.

He flagged off 52 teams which would monitor violations that may result in rise in air pollution in Delhi.

On Wednesday, the Central Pollution Control Board directed state pollution control bodies of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi to start criminal prosecution against agencies or individuals who do not comply with directives to check air pollution.