New Delhi [India]: Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Tuesday said there is a need to take long term measures to control the level of air pollution in the forthcoming months.
“We need to continue long term measures so that in November, December we are not faced with the issue of air pollution,” Jung told ANI.
He said the measures that have been taken by the Delhi Government are effective and expressed hope that the level of pollution will come down by the end of this week.
Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain earlier today again blamed Punjab and Haryana for the smog engulfing the national capital.
Jain told ANI, “I agree that normally also the level of pollution is high in Delhi and was also high in October and September as well, but in today’s time, if the pollution is on rise, then 70 percent is due to stubble burning in neighbouring states.”
“We are taking appropriate measures, roads of Delhi are being washed- the corners of roads are being cleaned so that dust does not rise, irrespective of whose responsibility it is. The Delhi Government is taking all initiatives to clean all main roads,” he added.
The minister further said that the Delhi Police has been instructed not to allow any vehicle to enter the national capital that might further increase pollution levels and added that if the situation is not brought under control by Friday, then they would introduce the odd even scheme for vehicular movement again.
The Supreme Court today deferred the hearing of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) director Sunita Narain’s plea over rising pollution in Delhi till November 10.
The apex court noted Narain’s suggestions and a bench comprising of Chief Justice T.S. Thakur, Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and L. Nageswara Rao agreed to hear the matter.
Narain has told the court that there has been no effective implementation of the directions issued by the apex court last year.
Narayan wanted the court to monitor the implementation of its directions.
The court was also given a report by the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority for NCR on the state of air pollution in the national capital.
The Delhi government on Sunday unveiled a slew of steps, including closure of all schools for three days, to battle unprecedented smog levels that have drastically cut visibility and turned the national capital into a virtual gas chamber. (ANI)