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Tag: Pollution In Delhi

Capt Ridiculed Kejriwal’s Allegation On Stubble Burning in Pb

[Chd,Pb]Capt Ridiculed Kejriwal’s Allegation On Stubble Burning in Pb
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has ridiculed the nonsensical claim of his Delhi counterpart asking the AAP leader to stop indulging in political theatrics and to check out the facts before shooting from his mouth.Capt said that the data clearly indicated that Kejriwal’s government in Delhi had failed completely in addressing the problem of pollution in the national capital, said Captain Amarinder Singh, adding that the Delhi Chief Minister was, quite obviously, hunting for scapegoats to put the blame for his own failures.
Taking a dig at Kejriwal for his preposterous logic that the satellite pictures of stubble burning in Punjab was proof of it being the primary cause of the Delhi’s severe pollution, Captain Amarinder Singh said even a school kid would know better. “Can he (Kejriwal) really be an IIT graduate?”
Captain Amarinder Singh demolished Kejriwal’s illogical and ridiculous claim with recorded factual data, and warned that the people of Punjab would not take politely to the AAP leader’s attempts to pin the blame for his own failures on their state.
To begin with, the Punjab Chief Minister pointed out that the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi remains more than 300+ even during December and January every year, when there is no stubble burning in the neighboring States. This clearly indicates that the New Delhi environment is impacted by its own sources within Delhi, which are predominantly vehicular emission, construction activities, industrial activities, power plants, burning of Municipal Solid Waste and sweeping activities,
Further, Captain Amarinder Singh pointed out that as per the latest report of air pollution forecast by Weather Research and Forecasting Model of the India Meteorological Department, winds over Delhi-NCR had changed from north-westerly to easterly, so there was hardly any influence from crop fires in Punjab and Haryana. Yet, Delhi’s air quality continued to be “very Poor”, with an average PM2.5 concentrations of 208 micrograms per cubic meters on 2nd November, which was caused mainly from local vehicular and industrial emissions.
What is more, the increase in the concentration of PM2.5 due to stubble burning is proportionately less as compare to PM10. Thus, the contribution of stubble fire in the increase of PM2.5 is less, whereas, the Ambient Air Quality in Delhi witnesses an increase in the PM2.5 during the winter months, observed Captain Amarinder Singh.
Due to decrease in the temperature and wind velocity, the pollutants in the atmosphere are unable to disperse, which is the major cause of increase in the AQI at most places in north India. In particular, New Delhi AQI crosses the 400 mark due to high emissions from activities of a large population in a confined area of NCR and inversion phenomenon of the climate. During October 2018, the wind velocity became static and decreased to less than 2 KM/hr, Captain Amarinder Singh further pointed out, referring to available scientific data.
Captain Amarinder Singh asserted that had stubble burning been the reason for Ambient Air Quality deterioration then it should have impacted the air quality index of the cities of Punjab in the first place. However, it had been observed that the average AQI of Punjab during October, 2018 was 117, while the average AQI of Delhi hovered around 270. Most of the cities in Punjab have witness clear climate with long distance visibility, in sharp contrast to Delhi, he added.
As far as stubble burning incidents was concerned, he said that the number of such cases till 3rd November was 25394, against 30832 reported last year – clearly showing a decreasing trend. The number of fire incidents per lakh acres of area under paddy plantation is 390, which is very nominal. In fact, the number of fire incidents per village is less than 2 (considering the number of villages in Punjab is 12700), said Captain Amarinder Singh, adding that the State had been able to persuade 98% farmers not to practice the stubble burning.

Odd-Even-Why Much Hyped Scheme Not Working in Delhi:SC Wonders

[New Delhi] Odd-Even -Why Much Hyped Scheme Not Working in Delhi:SC Wonders
The Supreme Court today wondered why Arvind Kejriwal-led government’s much hyped Odd-Even scheme has not been able to reduce pollution level
“Why no difference is made out in pollution level in Delhi, even after steps have been taken like odd-even scheme, diversion of trucks from the national capital. What are the solutions,” a bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur asked while hearing a PIL filed in 1985 to check pollution levels.
The bench also comprising Justices A K Sikri and R Banumathi, on Saturday, said that earlier, the trucks used to ply through the centre of the national capital but now they have been diverted but still no difference seems to have been made in improving the ambient air quality.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for the automobile manufacturers said that there are several other factors which contribute to pollution which include road dust which is 38 per cent and industries which contribute 11 per cent.
“Unless we look and address the issue of real pollutant, nothing will seem to improve,” Singhvi said without commenting on the Odd-Even scheme whose second phase ends today.
Singhvi further said, “to say diesel cars cause more pollution and therefore we should ban them will solve no problem.”
The second phase of Odd-Even scheme started on April 15. The first phase of Odd-Even scheme was first launched on January 1 to January 15.
Chief Justice of India T S Thakur, earlier in December, had virtually endorsed the Delhi government’s decision to allow plying of private vehicles bearing odd and even registration numbers on alternate days to lower pollution levels, saying it can be followed “if it helps in reducing” the problem.
He had said that he was not averse to pooling vehicle with brother judges