Summary:
New Delhi: Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday asked senior officials of his department and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee to submit an action plan to tackle high air pollution levels in winter by September 21. The minister asked them to specify the reasons for bad air quality in winters while they prepare the action plan, officials said. Rai also discussed the issue of bio-medical waste disposal and ways to redress complaints related to pollution with the officials. Last year, Punjab produced around 20 million tonnes paddy residue and farmers burnt 9.8 million tonnes of it, according to government data. Similarly, Haryana produced 7 million tonnes of paddy residue last year, of which 1.23 million tonnes was burnt, it said..