Pollution: Centre says it is an ‘emergency’

Delhi is witnessing an “emergency situation” due to alarming pollution level, the Centre on Saturday said and called a meeting of Environment Ministers of all neighbouring states on Monday to curb stubble burning by farmers which has made Delhi a “gas chamber”.

As a blanket of haze continued to cover the city, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met Environment Minister Anil Dave and sought Centre’s urgent intervention to deal with the challenge. 

After the meeting, Dave said he has called a meeting of Environment Ministers of all neighbouring states on Monday and will request them to curb stubble burning in their states as it increases level of smog in Delhi. 

“There is an emergency situation in Delhi. The situation is bad, particularly for children, patients, women and elderly. 

We need to take immediate steps to deal with the situation,” Dave told reporters. Meanwhile, six labourers were killed and 13 others injured on Saturday when their van collided head-on 

with a truck in Sawant Khera village in Haryana’s Dabwali amidst fog. 

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Dabwali, Satya Pal said five persons died on the spot while one succumbed on way to a hospital in Dabwali.