Lok Sabha discusses air pollution in Delhi; Members across party lines urge govt to take effective steps to address menace

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Members cutting across party lines demanded in the Lok Sabha integrated action by the government to deal with air pollution. They stressed that it was wrong to blame farmers alone for deteriorating air quality in Delhi.

Most of the participating members said, vehicles, dust, construction and industries, power plants too are responsible for poor air quality and farmers of the neighbouring states of Delhi should not be blamed alone.

They demanded that the Centre, as well as states, should take tough measures to deal with the menace as air pollution was not only impacting Delhi but also various other cities of the country.

Participating in the discussion, BJP MP Pravesh Verma from West Delhi constituency said pollution in the city is mostly due to dust and construction activities. He alleged that the Delhi government did not take any necessary steps to contain the pollution. Another BJP MP Gautam Gambhir from East Delhi constituency said the Ghazipur land fill is a big menace, and merely penalizing farmers will not solve the issue.

TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar suggested that the government should initiate a movement, Swachch Hawa, on the lines of Swachch Bharat.

Pinaki Misra of BJD said, stubble burning is not a major contributor of pollution in Delhi and the farmers should not be vilified.

Manish Tewari of Congress too said stubble burning is not a major pollutant in Delhi and adjoining areas, hence small farmers should not alone be blamed for the present situation.

Congress MP Amar Singh suggested that a proper action plan is needed to contain the menace of stubble burning.

Shiv Sena MP Arvind Ganpat Sawant said that apart from other pollutants, electronic waste and lithium batteries are more hazardous.

T Sumathy of DMK suggested that union and state governments should take proper steps to deal with the pollution which is a health emergency.