• Source:JND
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Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has called a meeting of all concerned departments on Wednesday to ensure compliance with the instructions given by the Supreme Court yesterday regarding pollution. The meeting will be attended by Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot and Revenue Minister Atishi.

This came as the national capital on Wednesday recorded the AQI in 'Severe' category. The air quality of Anand Vihar stood at 452, same of RK Puram was recorded at 433. The AQI of Punjab Bagh was 460 and ITO's air quality stood at 413.

Speaking about the situation, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said, "A different situation has been created after the central government imposed the new law. We had written to the LG regarding the smog tower & real-time source enforcement study. The Smog Tower was started on the orders of the SC."

He further said, "All the parties be it BJP, Congress or AAP everyone will have to try (to curb) it together. It is sad that the BJP thinks that it is important to release a statement."

Several residents and commuters in the national capital complained of breathing problems and urged the government and the authorities concerned to mobilise steps to curb the runaway air pollution at the earliest.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday also expressed grave concern over the hazardous air quality in the national capital and directed that farmers should stop stubble burning forthwith in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh, saying it was one of the major contributors to air pollution.

Earlier on Tuesday, a statement from Delhi's LG office said that the AAP government misled and lied to the people in connection with the odd-even scheme to counter the deteriorating air quality in the national capital.

ALSO READ Delhi Air Pollution: AQI Remains 'Severe' In NCR; People Complain Of 'Breathing' Issues Despite AAP's Winter Action Plan | Key Points

"The much-publicised odd-even scheme to fight air pollution post-Diwali that was announced by the AAP Government yesterday is nothing but an attempt to mislead people and courts to divert attention from the ongoing severe crisis in the capital caused by air pollution," said the statement.

"The file to this effect clearly shows that the decision to implement the odd-even scheme as a part of measures under GRAP-IV was not approved by Minister (Environment) Gopal Rai," it added.

(With ANI inputs)

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