New Delhi : An expected discussion among lawmakers on Delhi’s worsening air pollution did not end up taking place as Parliament’s Winter Session ended on Friday morning. The Session began on December 1 and was marked by the passing of important bills on nuclear energy and rural employment.
As the Winter Session headed towards its end, it was expected that there would be a discussion on the issue of air pollution in North India. Last week, in a rare show of unity, Rahul Gandhi’s passionate pitch for a discussion on the inherent Delhi pollution swiftly received the Centre’s acceptance. But, even as the residents of the capital and its adjoining regions continue to choke on severe air quality, the discussion on the same has clearly gone for a toss.
Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav was supposed to reply on the pollution matter in Lok Sabha on Thursday at around 6 pm. However, the House was adjourned merely an hour after resumption amid fierce sloganeering by Opposition MPs as Union Agriculture Minister spoke about the G RAM G Bill.
Gandhi urged a bipartisan approach, emphasising that air pollution should not be treated as an ideological issue. “Most of our major cities are living under a blanket of poisonous air,” he said, calling for a structured discussion focused on future solutions rather than blame. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju responded positively, assuring the House that the government is ready for the debate and would work with the Business Advisory Committee to allocate time.
Yadav on Wednesday chaired the third in a series of high-level review meetings focused on air pollution mitigation in Delhi-NCR. The session specifically examined the action plans of municipal bodies in Delhi and Sonipat. Yadav stressed a “practical approach” to identifying pollution sources and developing implementable solutions, prioritising action against major polluters while avoiding undue inconvenience to the public.
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