New Delhi, November 9
Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar today reviewed the steps being taken by Delhi and neighbouring states to combat air pollution, while urging their governments to stop blaming each other and start acting in synergy.
The minister chaired a meeting to review air pollution mitigation efforts with senior officials of the governments of Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab, following the directions of the Supreme Court.
Javadekar said the state governments had been urged to work together and not indulge in a blame game over the hazardous pollution levels in northern India. The national capital’s air quality remained “very poor” on Friday, days after hovering around “severe” and “severe plus” category. “There are local factors such as waste burning, dust, industrial and vehicular pollution, which contribute to 70-80 per cent pollution. Everyone should think about how to reduce this pollution. I have appealed to them to not blame each other and work towards reducing it together,” he said. — PTI