Pollution not local but regional issue, says Jain

The Times of India , Monday, April 27, 2015
Correspondent : TNN
NEW DELHI: The issue of pollution in Delhi was raised prominently in the northern zonal council meeting held on Saturday. PWD minister Satyendar Jain said that pollution was discussed not as a local problem but as a regional issue for which cooperation of other states is also needed.

The meeting, chaired by home minister Rajnath Singh, was attended by chief ministers of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Delhi was represented by lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung and Jain. "We made it clear that pollution is not a local issue but a regional problem. A large component of air pollution is due to burning of paddy, interstate vehicles, etc, for which other states need to cooperate. However, the bigger problem is the construction of the eastern and western peripheral expressways for which the Supreme Court has also given directions. Even though both highways are not going through Delhi, the city has paid 50% of the cost. We have even paid 50% of the escalated cost. Now, Haryana is asking for more money from Delhi, to which we have strong objections," said Jain.

The western expressway will pass through Haryana while the eastern expressway has been planned through Haryana and UP. "The states are planning commercial exploitation along these roads. If Delhi can be expected to pay for these, then surely we can be given land along these for our industries. I raised this in the meeting but no decision took place on it," said Jain.

The other issue raised by Jain was pollution in Yamuna. The government has asked Haryana and UP to contribute at least 25% each to Delhi government's Rs 20,000 crore plan to clean the river. "If we can contribute to the expressways then they can contribute to clean the Yamuna since they will directly benefit from it," said Jain.

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Pollution-not-local-but-regional-issue-says-Jain/articleshow/47064348.cms
 


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