Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai, on Thursday, met Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav in a joint meeting of Delhi- NCR Environment Ministers to discuss the preparedness ahead of harvest season when stubble burning emerges as a major contributor to winter pollution. Rai pitched for the use of bio-decomposer solution prepared by the Pusa Indian Agricultural Research Institute helps decompose paddy husk in around 30 -35 days.
After his meeting with the Union Ministser, Rai briefed the media and said northern region of India including Delhi will have to face winter pollution this year also if State Governments will not take timely measures on stubble burning issue.
According to the sources, the environment ministry issued six advisories and over 40 directions on air pollution prevention via Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and adjoining areas on all emission sources and how to control them.
Pivotally, in every winter Delhi faces worst pollution causing respiratory issues among senior citizens and children mainly. According to SAFAR, half burn particles of paddy husk and dust pollutants can damage human lungs.
Meanwhile, taking all precautionary steps, before winter seasons, Delhi government emphasizing on the use of bio-decomposer. “State governments should take the responsibility of making bio-decomposer and spraying in the fields; only then is it possible to solve the problem of stubble,” adding, “Delhi’s efforts to curb pollution meaningless without the support of neighbouring states; some states are planning to distribute only capsules to farmers, work will not get off the ground.”
He further said that entire cost from procurement to spraying bio-decomposer is merely Rs. 1,000 per acre.
Besides, the use of Pusa institute solution to curb stubble burning pollution, Rai also appealed to Centre and State Governments to convert public and commercial vehicles to CNG vehicles like Delhi to curb vehicular pollution.
He said that all ndustrial units in Delhi operate on PNG; Industrial units operating in NCR should also be operated on PNG to control pollution levels.
During his interaction with the Yadava and other states’ representatives, he said that pollution hotspots of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana far off from their state capitals and they should institute on-ground task forces to manage the situation better.
While emission from firing the crackers also cause irritation and uneasiness, Rai said neighbouring states should ban firecrackers to curb pollution on Diwali.
Sharing Delhi government’s approach towards curbing pollution, Rai said that city government spraying bio-decomposer for free on 4,000 acres of farmlands and Centre and states need to work on war footing to implement the same in time.
The joint meeting was attended by Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab governments on air pollution.
Rai also stressed on the need to adopt Electric Vehicle Policy and Tree Transplantation Policy in other states along with campaigns to reduce vehicular pollution.
Promoting the joint effort to tackle winter air pollution in northern region, Rai said, “All states put forth their views in the meeting.