#AirEmergency: Politicians Including Gautam Gambhir, Hema Malini Skip Key Pollution Meet Without Reason
While toxic haze and smoke shrouds Delhi and people gasp for clean air, the politicians are not just busy in political blamegame but are also least concerned about the people who voted them to power.
A crucial Urban Development Parliamentary Committee meet was cancelled today because of the 25 Member of the Parliaments (MPs) invited, only four turned up.
The politicians who decided to give it a skip included the liked of Hema Malini, Gautam Gambhir, MJ Akbar, Kumar Ketkar and Kalyan Banerjee.
Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh was among the four MPs who showed up for the meeting.
According to news agency ANI, three commissioners of MCD, Vice-Chairman of DDA, Secretary/Joint Secretary of Environment did not attend the meeting.
BJP MP and former cricketer Gautam Gambhir issues a statement on him missing the Parliamentary Standing Committee of Urban Development meeting today, in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/FN3ETzmg07
¡ª ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2019
The Parliamentary Standing Committee of Urban Development has taken serious note against the officer's absence and plans to raise the issue with the Speaker.
Ironically, the meeting was scheduled to take place the same day on which Delhi topped the list of most polluted cities across the world. On Friday, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was registered close to 600.
On November 2, he Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) declared a public health emergency in Delhi NCR after pollution levels spiked to severe plus category.
On November 4, Delhi government¡¯s Odd-Even scheme kicked off till November 15. Today is the last day of the vehicle rationing programme.
The Supreme Court also pulled up the government and asked if the Odd-Even system is really working. The apex court noted that two-wheelers in the national capital are a massive source of vehicular emissions and are yet exempted from the rule.
BCCL
The SC sought report from the state government whether the Odd-Even programme proved to be effective or not.
In response, the Delhi government said that there has been a reduction in pollution levels by 5-15 percent. It however noted the results would be better if the anti-pollution measure could be implemented without allowing any exemptions.
The Delhi government put the onus on neighbouring states for the noxious smog that pushed Delhi towards an 'emergency zone', the state government said, "The real culprit of Delhi pollution is stubble burning. Last year no study was done on impact of Odd-Even scheme."
According to a report by PTI, the absentees asked junior officials to convey to their seniors that they should have attended the meeting.
BCCL
Amongst the questions that members had planned to raise was one on whether the Delhi government has a plan to introduce car pool policy or regulations as there are about 50 lakh cars on the roads in Delhi.
Another question was about the utilisation of the Rs 1,150 crores the Centre says was given to the states in the last year to combat air pollution along with 14,000 machines.
This lackadaisical approach from politicians comes at a time when more concrete steps are required with quick implementation to improve the deteriorating air quality in the national capital.
