Govt’s affidavit rejects Kejriwal’s claim; Javadekar slams Delhi CM
Contrary to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s assertions that stubble burning in Delhi’s neighbouring States contributes to the Capital’s deadly pollution, the Centre has told the Supreme Court in an affidavit that stubble burning declined nearly 41 per cent between 2016 and 2018 in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
According to the affidavit filed by the Union Environment Ministry in the SC, Punjab remained at the bottom of Delhi’s adjoining States in reducing its share of the toxic haze.
For his part, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday at an event slammed Kejriwal for “politicising” the issue of air pollution and indulging in a blame game as the air quality in Delhi-NCR deteriorated.
In its affidavit filed on the direction of the top court on October 22, the Central Government had admitted that stubble burning is a chief cause of bad air in Delhi-NCR in the months of October and November.
The Government added that it is taking all possible measures, including additional budgetary allocation to the States of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, to reduce the stubble burning menace.
The Ministry cited a Government-mandated study conducted using satellite remote sensing to lay down statistics regarding reduction in the stubble burning. It said there has been a reduction of about 15 per cent and 41 per cent in the number of burning events in 2018 as compared to 2017 and 2016, respectively.
“It may also be noted that for the year 2018, there has been a reduction of 11 per cent, 29.5 per cent and 24.5 per cent in the number of burning events as compared to 2017 in the States of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh respectively,” said the Ministry in its affidavit.
The statistics show that while the reduction in stubble burning was the highest in Haryana among the three States, Punjab’s contribution was not even half of its other two neighbours.
“States have also been asked to put in place a strict surveillance and enforcement mechanism to prevent stubble burning around the peak season. Moreover, the States have also been asked to put incentive schemes in place for honouring village/gram panchayats/pradhans that achieve zero stubble burning,” said the affidavit.
The Ministry also apprised the Supreme Court that a high-level task force on the management of air pollution in Delhi-NCR is meeting periodically to address all concerns.
The Supreme Court will consider on Monday the report filed by a panel appointed by it, the EPCA, and other issues including pollution caused by stubble-burning in the neighbouring States.
After launching e-vehicles to tackle pollution in the city, Javadekar criticised the Aam Aadmi Party Government for not releasing funds for the construction of the Eastern Peripheral Expressway aimed at de-congesting traffic in the national Capital.
Javadekar acquired electric vehicles for himself and his Ministry saying it was “our duty to relieve the people” of contaminated air.
“The Delhi Chief Minister is politicising the issue of air pollution and is indulging in a blame-game. I will not stoop to their level,” Javadekar said.
“I will only say that Rs 3,500 crore was to be released by the Delhi Government for the Eastern Peripheral Expressway work but they acted only at the instruction of the court which directed them to immediately provide Rs 1,000 crore,” he said.
In Delhi, where pollution spiked in winters, e-vehicles would provide relief as they did not release particulate matter, the Union Minister said. “I am very happy that we are starting e-vehicles. I will also use it,” Javadekar said.
He said the national e-mobility programme was launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018 to get 30 per cent e-mobility by 2030.
The programme is being implemented by Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a joint venture of the PSUs under the Ministry of Power. At present, there are 1,500 electric cars in five States across India, including Delhi, with 65 charging stations in the national Capital alone, Saurabh Kumar, the managing director of EESL, said.