Delhi: MPs skip parliamentary meeting to discuss pollution control

New Delhi: Many MPs in the city gave the meeting called by Parliament's Standing Committee on Urban Development a miss. Since the vice-chairperson of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and commissioners of three MCDs in Delhi along with many MPs were missing in attendance, the meeting was called off. The date of the meeting postponed has not been decided yet.

The secretary for Environment and Climate Change was missing in action, too. MPs Jagdambika Pal, Hussain Masoodi, CR Patil and Sanjay Singh were present in the meeting.

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javdekar said, "I need to enquire about it. I'm not aware about the matter at present. We are always very serious about pollution. I have emphasized that pollution is not a problem faced only by Delhi. I have ordered a joint action plan and the teams are working on it. Joint cooperation of all agencies is needed to fight pollution," he said addressing the absence of MPs at the meetings.

The Aam Aadmi Party alleged that BJP Lok Sabha MP from East Delhi, Gautam Gambhir didn't attend the meeting too. The party asked if Gambhir's seriousness on pollution is "limited to the commentary box", and stated that the agenda of the meeting was sent a week back.

The Supreme Court has been repeatedly criticizing the state's leadership for inaction about the rising air pollution.

The air pollution levels in the capital city and the nearby regions of Noida and Gurgaon have been consistently getting worse with every single day. This morning, the Air Quality Index registered was 527 - a dangerous level that puts the air pollution levels straight in the dangerous category. Doctors have said that the pollution already has the citizens suffering from respiratory issues and may have debilitating log-term effects. Schools have been shut down again for a period of two days since children are the worst affected in such conditions.