Smoke in Delhi is due to stubble burning, we have to stop it collectively: Kejriwal

New Delhi: The Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a video address on Sunday said that Delhi is extemely polluted. The children and the elderly are suffering the most because of it. Everyone is different, whether old or young. But, what is the fault of people of Delhi, he asked.

The CM pointed out, "From February to the second week of October this year, the pollution levels in Delhi were at good or moderate levels. The air and the sky were clear. This picture of a blue and clear sky in Delhi was clicked 20 days back. And these pictures have been clicked today, there is smog and pollution everywhere. But the people of Delhi have done nothing in the last 20 days to cause such a situation. There was no sudden spike in vehicles or industries. The deteriorating air quality is because of the smoke from stubble burning in the neighboring states. A few years back, Delhi used to be polluted all year long. But the people of Delhi have taken several measures to battle pollution in the state. Frequent power cut was a major issue a few years back, and around 5-6 lakh diesel generators were commonly used during major power cuts. We now have 24-hour electricity in Delhi and the diesel generators are no longer in use which has reduced pollution considerably in Delhi."

Kejriwal said, "We have carried out afforestation on 600 acres of land, which has increased the forest cover in the state thereby reducing pollution. The Central Government has constructed the East-West peripheral highway outside Delhi, which has stopped the trucks entering the capital in the night to transport goods from one location to another. Trucks traveling from Haryana to Uttar Pradesh used to travel via Delhi, but it does not happen now."

The CM said, "The 5500 industries in the state which used fuels that caused pollution were strictly told to change their fuelling system and they are now using good fuel. The fuels were replaced on a subsidy and the industries have become CNG-based. The construction activities have also been banned by us and heavy fines are levied by the officers. Nearly 75-80 percent of children in Delhi did not burn crackers this year. The "Dilli Ki Diwali" laser show in Cannaught Place was a huge success and thousands of people turned up. We have done whatever we could to reduce pollution in the state in the rest of the year."

Kejriwal said that the smoke from stubble burning has been causing pollution in Delhi from the last 20 days.

He said, "The media is telling us not to play the blame-game. But I want to tell them that we do not want to play the blame-game. We are not blaming anybody, we are saying that all the people should come together and find a solution. There should be no politics. It is a matter of grave concern for all of us, our health is at stake. What will we get by playing a blame-game? We are just saying that the smoke in Delhi is due to the stubble burning and we have to stop it collectively. Even scientists and environmental experts have been giving stubble burning as the cause of smoke in Delhi. We just wish that all the state governments and the central governments should hold a discussion meeting on the matter."

There are 27 lakh farmers in the states of Haryana and Punjab, and only 65,000 harvesting machines have been distributed to them in a span of two years. Kejriwal questioned, "How long will it take for the government to distribute these machines to 27 lakh farmers and how long will we have to suffer? We are not saying that Delhi does not have its own pollution. We are also trying to reduce that."

"We are implementing the Odd-Even scheme from Monday. I want to request you all to please follow the rules for the safety of you and your family. I will also follow the rules along with you all. Delhi cabinet ministers and Delhi officials will also follow them. I would also request you to share a car with your friend. I will also share a car with one of my fellow ministers. I am sending you masks through school students, and I shall advise you to use them when you are having trouble breathing. I am very concerned about the two crore people of Delhi, and I pray to God that you all remain in good health. Let's all come together to fight pollution."