Stubble burning causes 4% air pollution in Delhi-NCR: Javadekar

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said that stubble burning is not a major factor for air pollution in Delhi-NCR. He said that only 4 per cent of the pollution is due to stubble burning. Ninety-six per cent of it is due to local factors like biomass burning, garbage dumping, unpaved roads, dust, construction and demolition activities.

New Delhi: The Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, on Thursday, claimed that the cause of air pollution of Delhi-NCR is majorly due to local factors and stubble burning contributes to only 4% in the cause of air pollution.

"Only 4% of the pollution of the Delhi-NCR area is due to stubble burning. Rest of the 96% is due to local factors like dust, construction work, biomass burning, garbage dumping, demolition activities etc," said Javadekar while addressing the media on rising in air pollution levels of the city.

The Union Minister flagged off 50 teams of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) which will inspect areas of Delhi-NCR like Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ballabhgarh, Jhajjar, Panipat, Sonipat, Bhiwadi, Alwar and Bharatpur.

While addressing the nodal officers of CPCB, Javadekar said, "You will work for the next two months and take a note of all activities and complaints. You will inspect all factors. You have the right to file a report on your observations and strict action will be taken."

These 50 teams of CPCB will make extensive field visits for on spot reporting of major air polluting sources such as major construction activities without proper control measures, dumping of garbage and construction waste alongside the roads and on open plots, unpaved roads, open burning of garbage/industrial waste, etc., using SAMEER App, from October 15, 2020, till February 28, 2021.

In addition to this, Javadekar also attacked Punjab Government over the rise in stubble burning cases in the state, saying that his throat got choked with the smoke from burning of crop residue during a recent visit to Ludhiana.

“Central Government has provided a number of machines for the decomposition of stubble. Punjab government should pay attention to the matter and ensure that there is not much stubble burning this time,” the Union Minister said.

He further added mentioning that stubble burning has increased in Punjab, deteriorating the air quality of national capital, "Delhi pollution situation is critical during the winter. Himalayan breeze, moisture from Ganga, dust pollution in north India and Delhi being a plain area, create a crevis for pollution."

Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister slammed Javadekar over his statement and said 'denial is not the solution'.

Taking to Twitter, the chief minister sought to know why pollution has suddenly increased in Delhi-NCR in the last fortnight if stubble burning causes only 4 per cent pollution.

Kejriwal's tweet

"Staying in denial will not help. If stubble burning causes only 4% pollution, then why has pollution suddenly increased last fortnite? Air was clean before that. Same story every yr. There's no massive jump in any local source of pollution in last few days to cause this spike?," Kejriwal said in a tweet.