CHANDIGARH: Union environment minister Anil Madhav Dave said that Haryana's contribution towards controlling the pollution was praiseworthy as the state had successfully controlled it by 90%. After chairing a conference of environment ministers of the states with areas falling in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Punjab, Dave said at New Delhi on Monday that various factors were contributing to pollution in Delhi and adjoining areas. "Taking example of Haryana, we have to work round-the-year to resolve this serious issue," said Dave while speaking to the newspersons.
On the occasion, Haryana environment minister Vipul Goel claimed that data and surveys had made it clear that the state government has successfully reduced the pollution caused by residue burning.
Goel said the Haryana government had launched an awareness campaign to reduce pollution caused by crop residue burning. He said the state government was taking effective measures such as banning all the polluting vehicles to curb the menace of growing environmental pollution in districts of Faridabad and Gurgaon. He said deliberations were also being held to shift all thermal power plants which contribute to air pollution. He said the maximum pollution was being caused by dust particles and vehicles whereas crop burning was a secondary factor.
He said pollution in the NCR was a common problem of many states, and it was the need of the hour to take collective measures in this regard. It was been decided in the meeting that an environment protection calendar would be prepared and followed religiously which would definitely yield positive results, he added.
Those present in the conference included Punjab agriculture minister Tota Singh, Rajasthan minister of state for environment Raj Kumar Rinwa, Delhi environment minister Imran Hussain and minister of state attached with Uttar Pradesh chief minister Abhishek Mishra.
