The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday hit out at the Centre for not taking “steps” to curb alarming level of air pollution despite Supreme Court direction to find a permanent solution to the problem.
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh alleged that the BJP is trying to ‘politicise’ a sensitive issue like pollution and the Centre is not taking concrete steps to tackle the issue.
To mitigate the problem, the Delhi government is considering to extend the odd-even scheme as requested by many people, he said, adding that there is an absence of will power from the side of Central Government to implement the directions given by the Supreme Court regarding stubble burning in the States of Punjab and Haryana.
The Chief Minister has also written to the Central Government informing the situation but with no positive response on the issue, he said.
Singh also alleged that BJP has three different faces of Chief Minister and all of three want to become the Chief Minister of Delhi.
“It is unfortunate that instead of becoming a credible chief minister face, the leaders of Delhi BJP are playing with the health of the residents. They are also encouraging people to violate the norms of combating pollution,” said Singh.
“The BJP, on the other hand, is trying to increase the pollution in the national capital. I think it is time that the Centre clarifies why no concrete steps are being taken despite the Supreme Court’s direction,” Singh said.
“The BJP opposed each and every move of the Government whether to organize a four day laser show to encourage people not to burn crackers on Diwali or implementing Odd Even rule in Delhi. It is very unfortunate that even BJP leaders’ burn garbage and shared videos of it to show that they are violating the pollution control norms of the AAP Government,” Singh said.
The air quality remained in the severe category on Thursday and the Delhi-NCR region shrouded by a thick layer of toxic smog. It neared the “emergency” level for the second time in a fortnight on Wednesday due to raging farm fires in neighbouring states and unfavourable weather.
Singh claimed that a meeting on pollution held by Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar was not attended by state environment ministers of Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. “I request these ministers to show some seriousness towards the sensitive issue. Just to portray AAP in bad light, you are putting people at risk not only in Delhi but also in Punjab and Haryana who are suffering due to pollution by stubble burning,” he said.
“I request Javadekar to hold a meeting with all the state governments of North India to discuss and to find a solution. I can promise full support of our Government to solve the problem of air pollution,” he added.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Centre to explore the feasibility of a hydrogen-based Japanese technology as a permanent solution to the air pollution in the NCR region and other parts of north India.
