Ask states to act on pollution, Delhi minister tells Centre

New Delhi, Oct 5  The Delhi government on Friday requested the Centre to direct neighbouring states -- Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh -- to take air pollution control measures.

Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain wrote to Union Minister Harsh Vardhan reminding him about the serious situation in the national capital last year.

"With the festive season approaching, coupled with the onset of winter, Delhi is again likely to face adverse air pollution conditions," Hussain wrote.

He requested the Centre to direct the neighbouring states to take preventive, precautionary and controlling measures for air pollution resulting from crop residue burning.

"It is requested that an urgent high-level meeting of the chief ministers concerned along with environment ministers of the NCR states, including Delhi, may be convened at your level to review the efforts being made to control air pollution," he wrote.