“It Is A Matter Of People’s Live,” Delhi Environment Minister Urges Centre To Prohibit Stubble Burning In Diwali

Delhi: Bursting firecrackers is not a religious issue; it has an impact on people’s lives, according to Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai, who asked the opposition not to jeopardise the health of children and the elderly for political gain. He also urged the Centre to issue an advisory telling Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh that stubble burning should be prohibited during the Diwali season.

Rai claimed at a press conference that some opposition party members are attempting to disrupt the AAP government’s anti-pollution efforts by tying firecrackers bursting to religion. According to Rai, the air quality in Delhi the day before Diwali was the best in five years. According to him, the national capital’s average air quality index was 173 in October this year, the lowest in five years, with average AQIs of 265 in 2020, 234 in 2019, 269 in 2018, and 284 in 2017. According to him, the anti-cracker effort has resulted in the seizure of over 13,000 kg of illicit firecrackers and the arrest of 33 persons.

A penalty of Rs 1.23 lakh has been imposed on 406 construction sites deemed to be in violation of dust control regulations as part of the drive to reduce pollution. Pusa bio-decomposer, a microbial solution that can transform stubble into manure in 15 to 20 days, was sprayed over 1,700 acres of agricultural land in Delhi, according to Rai.