New Delhi, Oct 18 (Agency) Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday wrote to Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav, urging him to hold a joint meeting with the environment ministers of NCR states regarding air pollution issues during the winter season in the national capital. Rai said that 31 percent of pollution in Delhi is due to internal sources, while 69 percent is from external sources. Various steps are being taken by the Delhi government under the Winter Action Plan to reduce pollution. But unless the factors responsible for pollution are stopped in the NCR states, all these steps taken will not be effective.
Therefore, there is a need to convene a joint meeting with environment ministers of NCR states at the earliest, Office of the environment minister said in a communiqué. Rai urged the Union Environment Minister to convene a joint meeting with the Environment Ministers of NCR States at the earliest so that an action plan can be prepared and the level of pollution can be reduced. In the letter, Rai stated that the issue of pollution increases significantly during the winter season in the national capital. Keeping all factors in mind, the Delhi government has made a winter action plan based on 15 focus points this time and is working on it. He stated that as a result of all the measures taken by the Delhi government, the level of pollution here has continuously been declining following which pollution has come down by 30 percent in the last 8 years. The report released by the CSE shows that 31 percent of pollution in Delhi is due to internal sources, while 69 percent is from external sources, it said.