Spend on farmers, not ads: Javadekar hits back at AAP
New Delhi: In the backdrop of a grim grey sky in the national capital on Monday as the Odd-Even car rationing system began, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar responded to Aam Aadmi Party’s allegation about his office having “kept postponing” meetings to curb pollution.
Javedekar asked, “Delhi government says enough machines have not been given to farmers. We have spent Rs 1,500 crore on machines. Why did Delhi government spent so much on ads than helping the farmers, let them answer”.
He also asked the Kejriwal-led Delhi government to clarify to what extent it has obeyed the CPCB order.
On Sunday, AAP held a press conference in Delhi, where Atishi Marlena targeted BJP and Congress in the same vain, by flashing maps of stubble burning from Punjab and questioning the alleged inaction of the Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar.
Likening the prevailing situation to an “environmental emergency”, she demanded an answer from Javadekar in “next one hour” as on when does he intend to convene an emergency meeting of all environment ministers of all north Indian states.
On Monday, Javadekar hit back saying the concept of meeting top officials of states to deal with pollution level was started by himself.
The minister stressed the importance with which the Union government is dealing with the situation by citing the meeting held on Sunday by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister who reviewed the grave situation of severe air pollution in Delhi, it’s adjoining NCR region and other parts of North India, on Sunday.
P.K. Mishra, on Sunday reviewed at a high-level meeting. Senior officials from the States of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi – the three states most affected, had joined the meeting through video conferencing.
Speaking on the sidelines of Chemical Industry conclave, Javadekar further said that if pollution load of industrial units does not increase, there is no need to come back to the Environment Ministry repeatedly to seek permission.