New Delhi:Addressing a press conference on Thursday against the backdrop of increasing pollution in Delhi, CM Arvind Kejriwal along with Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann declared that the primary schools in the national capital shall remain closed effective from November 5. Further emphasizing the urgency of the situation, the AAP chief said that the center needs to take specific steps to save the entire of north India from pollution instead of playing the blame game.
"This is not the time for blame game and politics. We are closing down primary schools entirely until further notice, while sports activities for students above class 5 in schools will also be restrained," the Delhi CM said. Taking responsibility for the excessive stubble burning in the state of Punjab which is currently under AAP leader Bhagwant Mann's rule, Kejriwal said, "Punjab government is largely responsible for stubble burning. We take full responsibility for it. We have taken certain measures to control it, and we promise it will be significantly reduced in the state by next year."
"It is likely that more stubble burning will be practiced due to bumper paddy crop season in Punjab and the situations may worsen," he said, reassuring that a final solution to the problem will definitely be devised and executed by November next year. Giving more details of the measures taken so far, Kejriwal said, "There are 1.20 lakh machines to bury stubble in fields in Punjab. The village panchayats in the state have also passed resolutions not to burn stubble." He further said that a joint meeting of Chief Ministers along with expert opinions is the need of the hour.