'Don't want blame game, we take responsibility for stubble burning': Kejriwal on north India's worsening air quality
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said the Punjab government run by his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will take full responsibility for the stubble burning in the northern state, refraining from playing the "blame game" over the worsening of air quality in north India.
Addressing a press conference with his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann, Kejriwal said, "We are going to take steps along with the farmers to control stubble burning.
"We have our government in Punjab. We won't play the blame game. We take full responsibility for stubble burning in Punjab," said the AAP chief.
"We have taken steps. Stubble burning will come down next year," Kejriwal added.
Kejriwal on Friday announced the closure of all primary schools in the national capital till the air quality improves.
The outdoor sports activities for students above class five have been restricted.
According to data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the AQI on Friday continued to remain in the "severe" category.
As per the agency, the share of stubble burning in Delhi's PM 2.5 pollution jumped to three-four per cent on the day.
According to SAFAR, in adjoining Noida in Uttar Pradesh, which is part of the national capital region, the AQI recorded was 562 on the day, while in Haryana Gurugram's AQI stood at 539. All in the severe category.
Denying the pollution problem only exists in Delhi, Kejriwal said, "This is not the problem of only Delhi. Several north Indian cities are facing this crisis."
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