Delhi ready to take all steps to curb pollution but stop crop burning: Arvind Kejriwal

Arvind Kejriwal said that a decision on whether the odd-even car rationing scheme will be implemented in Delhi or not will be taken today if the need arises.

NEW DELHI: Standing firm on his opposition to crop burning, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that Delhi is ready to take all steps but stubble burning needs to stop. "The high increase in PM levels in Delhi is not just due to local reasons. People & govt of Delhi are ready to take all steps but these steps will not be enough until a solution to crop burning is found," Delhi CM said.

He also said that a decision on whether the odd-even car rationing scheme will be implemented in Delhi or not will be taken today if the need arises.

"For a month from mid-October to mid-November, the whole northern India becomes a gas chamber, not just Delhi," the Chief Minister said after inaugurating 20 continuous ambient air quality monitoring station.

Calling for the crop burning issue to be solved, he said: "Until state governments don't find economically viable solutions to crop burning, the rise in pollution will not stop," he said.

The chief minister also called on his counterparts of the neighbouring state and the Central government to come together, keeping politics aside and find a solution to the issue.

Pollution in the national capital has reached disastrous levels with smog enveloping the whole city. The Health Ministry has issued a pollution advisory, asking citizens to drink plenty of water and to avoid areas with smoke or heavy dust, among other measures.

All schools in the nation capital will remain shut till Saturday. The Delhi Metro will also increase the frequency of trains to encourage people to use the public transport due to heightened pollution levels.

The city's air quality worsened ahead of winter as cooler air traps pollutants near the ground, preventing them from dispersing into the atmosphere.