Vijay Goel: 'Kejriwal government did not act on the major factors causing pollution'

Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) and BJP leader Vijay Goel on Thursday said that the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government has not dealt with major causes of pollution in its five-year term and has implemented the odd-even rule as a 'drama'. "The Kejriwal government did not act on the major factors causing pollution in its term of five years. In its last year of governance, Kejriwal enacted the odd-even rule which is just a drama. I am not against the rule as such but I oppose the lax way of implementation of the rule by the Delhi government," Goel told ANI. "Pollution is majorly caused by road dust, construction dust and burning of garbage. Kejriwal government did not act on these factors and imposed the odd-even rule as a populist measure," Goel added. 

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Private and government-run schools in the Delhi and NCR region closed

Private and government-run schools in the Delhi and NCR region remain closed for Thursday and Friday as the air quality remains in the 'severe' category as of Thursday morning. The Air Quality Index (AQI) docked at 472 with particulate matter (PM) 2.5 levels at 322 and PM 10 levels at 487 at 8:30 in the morning, said System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR). An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 'severe'. An AQI above 500 falls in the 'severe plus' category. 

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'The effective stubble fire counts have shown a decreasing trend'

"The effective stubble fire counts estimated by Safar-integrated multi-satellite methodology has shown a decreasing trend (480 counts on November 12). Hence, a decline in biomass share in Delhi's air quality is estimated as 13 per cent for November 14 in spite of favourable transport-level wind trajectory," SAFAR stated. Air quality condition is likely to marginally improve by Friday, but a reasonable improvement to the 'very poor' is expected only by November 16.

READ | Delhi Schools To Remain Shut On November 14 & 15, Following EPCA Recommendation

The SC asked the govt to find a solution to the problem of air pollution 

The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, criticised the Centre over deteriorating air quality in Delhi and asked the government to find a solution to the problem of air pollution. It asked the Centre to explore Hydrogen based fuel technology to find a solution to reduce air pollution in North India and Delhi-NCR. In reply, the Centre also told the Supreme Court that it is exploring technology, including that from Japan and is trying to tackle air pollution. Furthermore, it has been decided that the Centre will submit a report on the issue by December 3.

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(INPUTS FROM ANI)