Arvind Kejriwal: 'Crops stopped burning and with this, the air of Delhi also cleared'

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday, November 17, said the Air Quality in Delhi has improved as the stubble burning in neighbouring states has decreased. He also questioned people who said, only 5 per cent of air pollution is attributed to Air Pollution. 

Pollution is not politics, but clearly everyone needs to work together

"The crops stopped burning. And with this, the air of Delhi also cleared. Some people were saying that only 5% of Delhi's air pollution is due to crops. So did the AQI go from more than 500 to less than 200 with only 5% less pollution? Pollution is not politics, but clearly everyone needs to work together," he said in a tweet. 

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'300 teams have been deployed to monitor garbage burning'

Earlier, Arvind Kejriwal held a press conference where he had asserted the Air Quality will improve and the government will be monitoring it closely for the next couple of days.

"300 teams have been deployed to monitor garbage burning and heavy fines have been imposed on people caught. Delhi has industrial pollution, vehicle pollution and Dust pollution. The remaining pollution is coming from outside. However, weather predictions indicate an improvement in the coming days," he said. 

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal earlier blamed the stubble burning in neighbouring states for the increased pollution levels in Delhi. He also urged the governments of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to take steps to prevent stubble burning in their states. According to Punjab Remote Sensing Centre (PRSC), straw burning has increased this year. He also urged the people of Haryana and Punjab to stop stubble burning. 

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Supreme Court against stubble burning

The Supreme Court on November 6 has ordered the governments of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to give an incentive of Rs 100 per quintal within 7 days to small and marginal farmers who have not burnt crop stubble. According to reports, the stubble burning contributes to 44 per cent of pollution. Earlier, the Delhi Government shut schools and declared a major health emergency after the Air Quality in Delhi worsened and reached a critical stage. An odd-even scheme was also announced by the government to control pollution levels. 

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