The national capital and parts of western and central Uttar Pradesh are under the grip of one of the worst air pollution in past years.
Even as Delhi and its adjacent areas in Uttar Pradesh inched towards alarming levels of air pollution, a minister in the Yogi Adityanath government has suggested governments to hold 'yagna' to please Lord Indra who would help reduce pollution by making it rain.
"Governments should hold 'yagna' to please Lord Indra (God of rain), as it has been done traditionally. Lord Indra will set things right," said Bharala who is chairman of labour welfare board and enjoys the status of a state minister.
UP minister Sunil Bharala also rubbished the issue of stubble burning causing pollution even though it is known as a major contributor to Delhi's plummeting air quality. The share of stubble burning from the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana in causing Delhi's pollution rose to 46% on Friday, the highest this year, according to government monitoring agency SAFAR.
But Bharala dismissed it as an "attack on farmers".
Bharala's comments came at a time when the national capital and parts of western and central Uttar Pradesh are under the grip of one of the worst air pollution with the Air Quality Index (AQI) level in most places being either in 'very poor' or in 'severe' category.
Bharala said stubble burning is a natural process and does not cause pollution to such an extent.
"Farmers have always practised stubble burning and it is a natural process. Repeated criticism of it is unfortunate," he said.
However, UP chief minister Adityanath does not seem to be agreeing with Barala. On November 1, Adityanath held an emergency meeting to address rising pollution levels and pulled up district magistrates and divisional commissioners for failing to prevent burning of crop residue waste.
Meanwhile, Gautam Buddh Nagar district administration has ordered all private and government schools to remains closed till November 5 due to increasing air pollution in the region.
In an order by District Magistrate BN Singh, the increasing AQI of the district has been outlined along with the ill-effects of vehicular pollution in this regard.
"It is evident that the existing AQI gets worse due to vehicular pollution. Large numbers of buses are deployed in different schools to bring and drop children from their homes. Parents also use their private vehicles to take their children to schools. This leads to a large number of vehicles being on roads during the start and end hours of schools every day, which in turn has an adverse effect on deteriorating air quality," the administration said in an order.
It has directed all schools up to class 12 to remain closed for till November 5. Delhi will also follow suit.
(With inputs from agencies)