Delhi Pollution: CM Kejriwal Tweets On Air Quality Status, Environment Minister Calls Meeting To Discuss Steps

The Delhi Environment Minister had on Sunday written to Centre, demanding that an emergency meeting of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan be called to discuss the issue of stubble burning.

File Photo

New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday shared details of Delhi’s air quality as the national capital deals with worrying pollution levels.

The Delhi CM took to Twitter and shared the figures pertaining to Air Quality Index (AQI), PM10 and PM2.5 levels in the air.

08 Nov -

AQI - 390 (301 to 400 - Very Poor)

PM10 - 388 (351-430 - Very Poor)

PM2.5 - 245 (121 to 250 - Very Poor)

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) November 8, 2021

This comes as earlier in the day, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that a joint meeting of all departments concerned on Tuesday will discuss more steps to reduce air pollution in the capital from local sources.

“Yesterday stubble burning was reported at around 400 places. It needs to be restricted,” Gopal Rai said, as quoted by news agency ANI.

The Delhi Environment Minister had on Sunday written to the Union government, demanding that an emergency meeting of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan be called to discuss the issue of stubble burning.

Stubble burning is the main reason behind the increased air pollution in Delhi, he said citing scientists.

“We had urged the Centre on Sunday to call an emergency meeting of all neighbouring states to reduce the incidents of stubble burning,” Gopal Rai said, as quoted by news agency PTI.

“We have also called a meeting of all departments concerned, including environment department, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, Delhi Development Authority, Public Works Department and municipal corporations, at the Delhi Secretariat at 12 noon on Tuesday to discuss what more can be done to reduce Delhi's own share of pollution,” he told the media.

According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences’ air quality forecast agency SAFAR, stubble burning accounted for 48 per cent of Delhi's PM2.5 pollution on Monday, the highest in three years.

As per PTI,  the share of stubble burning in Delhi's pollution last year had peaked at 42 per cent on November 5. In 2019, crop residue burning accounted for 44 per cent of Delhi's PM2.5 pollution on November 1.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government has deployed 114 tankers for water sprinkling to reduce air pollution in the national capital.

Delhi recorded severe air quality for three consecutive days till Sunday due to accumulation of emissions from fireworks on Diwali and stubble burning amid unfavourable meteorological conditions -- low temperature, wind speed and mixing height.