‘Only Centre Can Save Delhi From Stubble Smoke'

CM Kejriwal blames neighboring states for killer pollution, says Odd-Even effective as it keeps 15 lakh vehicles off roads

- Ashutosh Mishra

There has been enough talk on controlling pollution, and the Central government must provide a detailed action plan for the same, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Monday.

“At this moment, entire north India is covered in a thick layer of pollution because of stubble burning. If the smoke is coming from nearby states, it’s impossible for the Delhi government or citizens to do anything about it,” he said.

“However, as for the smoke accumulated in Delhi, we are trying to reduce it further," Kejriwal said in an exclusive interview with India Today TV. The CM said Punjab and Haryana should provide their farmers with machines to get rid of stubble so that burning doesn’t take place.

“Out of 27 lakh farmers in the two states, only 63,000 have got such machines in two years. At this pace, I don't know how many years it will take for each farmer to have one,” he said.

When asked to elaborate on how stubble burning affects the air quality of the National Capital, Kejriwal said that Delhi witnessed clear skies and pollution levels dropped almost 25 percent from February to October 15.

“But it took just 20 days for Delhi's air quality to become one of the worst in the world. The smoke from stubble burning entered Delhi and made it a gas chamber,” the AAP chief said.