• By Mayukh Debnath
  • Mon, 06 Nov 2023 02:00 PM (IST)
  • Source:ANI
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Delhi Air Pollution: A day after Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai blamed BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh and Haryana for the worsening levels of air pollution in and around the national capital, Punjab minister Harpal Singh Cheema spoke along the same lines and accused the saffron party of "maligning" the state's image "under a well-fabricated conspiracy".

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"The BJP is maligning Punjab's image under a well-fabricated conspiracy. In fact, most stubble-burning is happening in the states like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, which are ruled by them. First, they should take action against them," the AAP minister stated.

Cheema further claimed that instances of stubble burning have gone down in Punjab. "The cases of stubble burning have declined in Punjab... It is increasing in Haryana, UP and other states," he said. "We are moving towards diversification... We are giving subsidies to the farmers to grow different crops," Cheema further said.

The AAP minister's claim that stubble burning in Punjab has witnessed a decline is, however, contradictoy to the findings of the Punjab Pollution Control Board. As per the body's data, Punjab recorded as many as 656 occurrences of farm fires from September 15 through October 4 this year as against the 415 cases reported in the corresponding period last year, which means an increase of 63%.

(Representative Image. Pic Credits: ANI)

On Sunday, Rai had said the current deterioration in the city's air quality was a result of farm fires in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana and not Punjab. He said that the worsening levels of air pollution in Delhi was due to smoke arising out of stubble burning in the two neighbouring states of the city.

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"Central government figures show that less stubble has been burnt in Punjab this year in comparison to last year. Punjab's stubble smoke does not have as much impact on Delhi as that of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. This is because there is no movement in the wind," Rai had remarked.


(With inputs from ANI)