Sisodia asks Centre: When will stubble burning end in Punjab, Haryana

Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia on Saturday said that stubble burning was a major contributor to pollution levels in Delhi. He asked when the Central Government would put an end to this practice in Haryana and Punjab. Sisodia said that 46% of pollution in Delhi was caused by stubble burning in the neighbouring states.

Sisodia questions the BJP government in the centre

"The whole of North India is in the grip of the smoke of stubble... The central government is saying that 46 per cent of the current pollution is due to stubble (burning). But what is the central government doing to save northern India? Will the BJP give any time limit as to when the stubble will stop burning?" he asked.

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Deputy CM shared a poem written by a child

Sisodia also shared a poem highlighting the pollution problem in the national capital. The poem was purportedly written by a child. Sharing a photo to the poem, he wrote: "Appeal of a child who is forced to breathe in the smoke of straw." The poem blames the pollution in Delhi on stubble burning and bursting of crackers on Diwali. The poem which is written in Hindi also appeals for action to make the air clean.

Public health emergency in Delhi

On Friday, the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority declared a public health emergency as air pollution levels entered "severe-plus" category in the Delhi-NCR region and banned construction activity till November 5. 

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Air quality in Delhi

Pollution levels in Delhi and neighbouring cities dropped marginally on Saturday with a slight increase in the wind speed, a day after the region recorded its worst air quality forcing authorities to shut schools, ban all construction activities and declare a public health emergency. The city's overall air quality index (AQI) stood at 407 at 10 am. It was 484 at 4 pm on Friday, according to official data. In the National Capital Region (NCR), Ghaziabad and Greater Noida recorded AQIs of 459 and 452, respectively, at 10 am on Saturday. On Friday, they had an AQI of 496 at 4 pm, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said.

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