Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said that a total of 4,132 farm fires have been reported till date as compared to 12,813 during the same period last year.
Sachdeva alleged that the increased incidence of stubble burning in Punjab is contributing to pollution across North India, including Delhi.
Claiming that the AAP government is not serious about containing pollution, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said on Sunday for Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai, the issue is a mere way to keep himself in the news.
“Why are the states shying from prosecuting people for stubble burning and allowing them to escape with nominal fines," the bench remarked.
A bench led by Justice Abhay Oka expressed displeasure over Haryana's inaction on the directives issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Addressing the MLAs near Chandgi Ram Akhara, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said the new drive would provide strength to the “Yuddh Pradushan Ke Viruddh” initiative of the AAP government. He also informed that the councillors of Delhi would run a public awareness campaign at the Barakhamba Road intersection on 25 October in this regard.
The CM said villages have been categorized into red, yellow and green zones in terms of incidences of crop residue burning based on the data provided by the Haryana Space Applications Centre (HARSAC) to the agriculture and farmers' welfare department.
Giving this information on Monday, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said the Union Environment Minister was approached for a meeting with him and the CM in this regard, but the Central minister had so far not given time. Rai appealed to him to take cognisance of the grave issue.
Stressing on "collective action on ground" to counter the effects of pollution, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai appealed to the Centre while launching the 'Red Light On, Gaadi Off' campaign in all the 272 wards of the national capital.
The apex court had on October 16 appointed retired judge Justice Madan B Lokur to monitor stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
