Delhi calls for firecracker ban in entire NCR in meeting of states with Centre

Delhi govt urges Union Environment Ministry to impose complete ban on firecracker burning, diesel buses in NCR. Govt has taken numerous steps to curb air pollution, but NCR states must address sources of pollution. Suggested measures include banning firecrackers, stubble burning, converting industrial units to piped natural gas, adopting zig-zag technology in brick kilns, providing electricity to housing societies, redirecting non-destined vehicles. Delhi govt organised 'Run Against Pollution' to raise awareness, relaunching 'Red Light On Gaadi Off' & 'Patakhe Nahi Diye Jalao' campaigns. 15-point action plan to mitigate air pollution in capital, focusing on dust, vehicular emissions, open burning of garbage.

In a joint meeting of states with the Centre on Friday, the Delhi government urged the Union environment ministry to impose a complete ban on firecracker burning and the movement of diesel buses across the National Capital Region.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai told reporters here that Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav held a meeting with environment ministers of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. During this meeting, Delhi suggested several measures to curb pollution in the entire NCR region, he said.

Earlier, Mr. Rai had requested the Centre to convene a meeting of all NCR states to collaboratively develop an action plan to combat pollution during the winter season.

In a letter to Mr. Yadav, Mr. Rai had said that the Delhi government has taken numerous steps to curb air pollution during the winter season but these steps won't be effective unless Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh address the sources of pollution in the NCR region.

According to a report by independent environmental think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), 31 per cent of Delhi's pollution originates from sources within the national capital, while 69 per cent stems from sources in NCR states.

Mr. Rai stressed that the states in the NCR should enforce a complete ban on firecrackers and stubble burning across the region and only permit CNG and electric vehicles to ply.

Many industrial units in NCR states still use polluting fuels. They should be swiftly converted to piped natural gas. The highly polluting brick kilns operating in NCR states should be required to adopt zig-zag technology to mitigate pollution, he said.