Days after blaming Kejriwal Government for not doing enough to curb smog, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday called for "joint action" by all agencies to combat the worsening air quality in the national capital. Addressing a press conference here, Javadekar said it was not the time for different agencies to blame each other.
"Delhi pollution is not the problem of this city. Delhi's air has been worsening since 1990s. There are new challenges everyday as circumstances change. We have worked towards reducing industrial pollution, construction waste and dust etc. There is continuous work.
"But everyone should work together. Cooperation of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi Government, all three MCDs and NDMC, DDA, and all other agencies is required to fix this. Everyone has to work together," the minister said.
He said the Government was "very serious about the issue of air pollution. "Air pollution is an issue to be tackled collectively by agencies. It is not the time to blame each other. We are very serious about the issue of pollution," the Minister said.
A few days ago, Javedkar had slammed the Delhi Government for not doing much to curb the pollution.
Replying to another query, the Minister said the Government has withdrawn the 'officers' draft on amendments in the Forest Act, 1927 as the Government is committed to protect the rights of tribals and forest dwellers.
Javadekar said that the draft was not officially prepared by the Union Government.
The provision in the amendment which invited criticism was the one which allowed forest officials to use arms against people to prevent forest offence.
The provision read, "Any forest-officer, may if necessary, to prevent the commission of any offence under this Act or under the Wildlife Amendment proposed to provide indemnity to forest-officer using arms etc, to prevent the forest offence.This indemnity shall be in addition to the immunity provided under section 197 of Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 for certain categories of Public Servant."