The Haryana government has released images it claims are from NASA, showing more than double incidents of stubble-burning in Punjab as compared to Haryana. The images were reportedly taken on October 25 and 26. The three neighbouring states- Delhi, Punjab and Haryana have been locked in tussle over the pollution problem in the state.
Haryana’s move comes as Punjab claimed on Thursday that the number of stubble-burning incidents reduced by 53 per cent between September 15 and October 25 in the state, as compared to last year. According to the Punjab government, while there were 5,798 incidents last year, it was 2,704 this year.
Jawahar Yadav, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar’s OSD (Officer on Special Duty) has targeted Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab over the issue of stubble burning.
Notably, the Delhi CM on various occasions has held farmers burning stubble in Haryana as one of the reasons for the increase in pollution in Delhi.
“There is data from NASA of October 25 and 26, which clearly shows where there is stubble burning in Punjab and in Haryana. More than double stubble burning has occurred in Punjab as compared to Haryana. The Haryana government has brought it down. The silence of Arvind Kejriwal about the NASA data creates suspicion. He has alleged that Indian agencies are not giving data on pollution. Why does he need it now? The Punjab government has failed, and Arvind Kejriwal’s face has been exposed in front of the public,” Jawahar Yadav, OSD to Haryana CM said.
The Punjab government on Friday also listed out the steps the state government has taken to improve air quality. “Timely distribution of machines, utilisation of machines lying idle, efforts to ensure maximum utilisation of stubble in various industries, various deterrence efforts, campaigns to promote various in-situ and ex-situ methods and appeals to farmers have shown significant efforts and ensured improved air quality for everyone,” the government said in a statement.
Earlier, Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that blaming Delhi for an increase in pollution in the entire North India is petty politics.
“If you look at the area of Delhi, Delhi is so small that it is not even visible on the map of India. To think that pollution is happening in North India because of Delhi is petty politics. The Central Government will have to work with the states to make better and long-term plans. Only when pollution comes, blaming others will not help.” Saurabh Bharadwaj said.
