As reported earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was to meet his counterpart, Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar to discuss and reach to a consensus solution to the rising environmental problems in the national capital and surrounding area.
Both, the Chief Minister, met in Chandigarh as decided and held talks for around two hours, however, neither of them could reach to a conclusive solution to the rising pollution and smog in Delhi.
Earlier the Delhi government had alleged that the emergency like situation arose in Delhi due to the subtle burning of the crops by the farmers of the neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana. To this Khattar had questioned the Delhi government as to what measures they were taking to curb the situation.
After the meeting, the Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, in his statement to the press, said that “we all have to find a solution to the problem together and we will take all possible steps to fight the Delhi smog.” He also informed that “I met Khattar ji for about one-and-a-half to two hours. We had constructive and fruitful talks. Our territories might be different but no one has control over the wind. We discussed issues like crop burning, vehicular pollution, the introduction of CNG vehicles on interstate routes, expediting work on improving interstate connectivity etc. We will take any step that is necessary to fight the pollution in Delhi.”
Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, who earlier, giving a biting reply to Kejriwal’s letter had said that “I believe no single person, government or organisation can improve the air quality of Delhi. Such collective action problem requires everyone to do their bit and more importantly a strong mechanism for enhancing the outcome of such constructive steps.”
Following the meeting, Khattar expressed that the problem of rising pollution and smog in Delhi was a genuine concern and it was not limited to one state. Though even he was unable to give any concrete solution to the problem.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had also written to the Chief Minister of Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh, requesting him to meet and discuss the situation. However, Singh rejected his request, instead gave a scornful reply that Kejriwal should refrain from trying to politicise a serious issue. He had also asked the Centre to intervene as it was an interstate matter.
Hazardous Smog has been engulfing the national capital for over a week now, which has forced the NGT to announce an emergency like situation in Delhi. As per the latest reports, marginal improvement has been recorded in the air quality in Delhi on Tuesday, marking it from ‘severe plus’ to ‘severe’.