BS Hooda: 'Delhi Govt should work on other alternatives to curb pollution'

Congress leader and a two-time Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Saturday stated that "Pollution is a serious concern and instead of blaming the farmers, the Delhi Government should work on other alternatives to stop the rising pollution." Further, he said, "Stubble burning constitutes a very small portion as the cause of pollution. Every government should take steps towards stopping the pollution."

Delhi's AQI remains in 'severe' category

As the capital continues to reel under hazardous air quality levels, the figures reportedly remained in the 'severe category' for the fourth consecutive day on Saturday, November 16. The AQI on Saturday, at around 10:00 AM, was 404. The severity of the situation can be assessed by the sight of Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurugram, and Noida being engulfed by a thick blanket of smog. An AQI between 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 'severe'. Above 500 falls in the 'severe-plus emergency' category.

Read | WATCH: Congress party protests for good governance in Chandigarh

Supreme Court's order

Earlier, the Supreme Court on November 6 had ordered the governments of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to give an incentive of Rs 100 per quintal within seven days to small and marginal farmers who have not burnt crop stubble. The burning of crop residue in the three states is stated to be responsible for 44 per cent of the air pollution in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR).

Read | Draft CMP with Sena, NCP focuses on farmers, jobs: Congress leader

CM Kejriwal urges to stop stubble burning

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had urged the people of Haryana and Punjab to stop stubble burning. Taking to Twitter on November 11, Kejriwal said, "Pollution in the national capital has again started increasing after some respite last week." He further stated that people in the national capital are suffering immensely due to the rising air pollution. "We should stop stubble burning," he said. 

Read | Congress jumps at MoS Angadi's bizarre 'people getting married so economy fine' logic

Read | UP: Senior Congress leaders unhappy over being sidelined, to meet Sonia Gandhi