Farm fires are major reason for pollution: Satyendar Jain

The Delhi government urged the Centre to rein in crop burning in neighbouring states, enforce relevant laws to regulate large-scale construction and diversion of non-Delhi bound trucks.

The government flagged crop burning in Punjab and Haryana as one of the major factors contributing to the rising air pollution in the city and said it peaks during the night hours due to low wind speed in comparison to day time.

A task force headed by health minister Satyendar Jain on Thursday held a meeting with scientists of the Central Pollution Control Board and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to deal with the situation.

Mr Jain said scientists advised the government to stress upon a unified action plan for the entire NCR for its anti- pollution efforts to succeed.

The minister admitted that the situation is “worst”, but said scientists have advised government that there is no need of shutting down city’s schools as pollution is only at peak during night hours.

“In the meeting, crop burning in neighbouring states, including Punjab and Haryana, was flagged as one of the major factors contributing to the rising air pollution. In comparison to day time, there is two-fold increase in pollution during night hours.

“Wind speed is almost half of that during the day. At night, wind speed is 2 or 3 km per hour that’s why pollution is rising the most in that period,” Mr Jain told reporters after the meeting.

The government has also requested the Centre to put restrictions on plying of diesel taxis/autos in NCR, particularly on entry points of Delhi.

Earlier in the day, Delhi chief secretary K.K. Sharma held a meeting with the departments concerned to tackle air pollution following orders by the National Green Tribunal.