MUMBAI: Union Minister Piyush Goyal has termed as “ridiculous” the contention that Punjab farmers are to blame for pollution in Delhi.
Goyal, who handles the commerce and industry portfolio, asked everyone to “apply their mind” before coming to such conclusions. “…for Delhi, don’t believe anybody who tells you it’s the farmers of Punjab who cause the pollution in Delhi,” Goyal said at an event organised by the IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry here.
“Just apply your mind… I wonder how pollution travels 500 km through the high rises of Gurugram and finds a pathway to come to my home in New Delhi,” he said.
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It is “ridiculous” to place the blame on the farmers, Goyal said, making it clear that he was not supporting the burning of stubble either. Stubble burning by farmers after summer harvest to prepare their fields for winter crop often gets blamed for high levels of pollution in the national capital. Goyal said construction activity and vehicle emissions were the main causes of pollution in cities, as he called for adopting precast construction and electric mobility.
He said both alternatives represented cost advantages or a business case for a switch.
In the case of mobility, it made a business case to switch to the electric option from the conventional internal combustion engine, the minister said as he asked India Inc to ensure that goods were carried in and out of their units using electric mobility.
“Rather than blame somebody else, can we also think of our role? Can we think of electric mobility, personal use, our company use,” Goyal implored industry leaders.
In the case of construction, the Mumbai North Member of Parliament said the world was switching to precast, which was faster, more efficient and less polluting.