Crop-residue burning cannot be fully blamed for smog: Khattar

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today said the severe air pollution in Delhi cannot be entirely blamed on crop-residue burning by farmers, but is fallout of various factors, including construction activities and vehicular emissions.

"It is not at all right to say the entire problem of smog has been caused because of crop-residue burning by farmers. Reports suggest it is due to construction activities, vehicle emissions and bursting of firecrackers during Diwali," he claimed.

"We are witnessing a combined effect of all these things," he said, adding the impact of this pollution has been felt more on Delhi and NCR areas.
 

"Moreover, the winds too have been calm. Generally there are some light rains around Diwali but it has not happened this time," Khattar said.

Asserting that the Haryana government had taken several steps to stop the practice of stubble burning, the Chief Minister said, "Action has been taken against 1,424 erring farmers and Rs 13.50 lakh have been collected. We have also appealed to farmers to shun the practice."

Meanwhile, on the AAP government in Delhi attributing crop-residue burning as the major reason for smog in the national capital, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij alleged, "Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has a habit of putting blame on others for his own shortcomings and failures."

He should search for the reason behind air pollution in Delhi itself, he said.

"If Kejriwal is blaming Haryana then where are the dark clouds (thick smog) over our state. The skies are clear and there is no such pollution in here. Kejriwal is spreading political pollution. Everywhere he does the same thing," he alleged.

Haryana and Punjab governments have imposed a ban on crop-residue burning and erring farmers can be prosecuted by the authorities.

The Haryana government had recently also directed district-level committees, constituted to check the practice, to monitor the incidents through satellite images and submit a daily report to the headquarters.

Besides, the committees have been directed to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and register cases against violators at special environment courts backed by photographic and videographic evidence.