New Delhi, Nov 4 (UNI) Amid deteriorating air quality in the national capital, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Saturday wrote to Union Minister Bhupender Yadav seeking a ban on the entry of ‘polluting vehicles’ in the National Capital Region.
He also sought a meeting with the neighbouring states’ environment ministers on the pollution issue.
In a letter to Yadav, Rai urged him to effectively ban the entry of vehicles non-compliant to BS VI norms into Delhi from neighbouring states and also to ban such vehicles in NCR, so that the vehicular contribution to air pollution can be controlled.
Rai, in his letter, further requested that an emergent meeting be convened of Environment Ministers from neighbouring states including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab and Delhi to address the issue.
Entering the diesel BS3 and BS4 buses in Delhi, Rai alleged though the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) asked UP, Haryana and Rajasthan not to send diesel BS3 and BS4 buses to Delhi, UP and Haryana continued to do so.
Criticising the BJP governments in states, Rai alleged they are working to increase pollution in Delhi. “I want to say that all the BJP ruled states are working to increase pollution in the city. Today, I am again writing to the Union Environment Minister to call the meeting again on this important issue,” said Rai.
On Friday evening, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena held a meeting with Rai to review the situation.
In the meeting, the LG expressed grave concern over the unmitigated rise in AQI levels.
