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New Delhi: The Parliament is all set to discuss the issue of pollution in several North Indian states, on Thursday. The debate in the Lok Sabha comes amidst rising pollution levels in several cities, including the national capital, New Delhi. Opposition leaders have been demanding the debate on the pollution problem in the country, especially in Delhi-NCR for a long time now. The debate will be held post which, the Union Environment Minister, Bhupendra Yadav will reply at 5 pm.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha was one of the first to demand a debate on pollution in the House. After this demand was raised, the Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Kiren Rijiju assured him that the government was open for a discussion.
On December 12, Gandhi said in the Lower House of Parliament, "Most of our major cities are living under a blanket of poisonous air. Millions of children are getting lung diseases. Their future is being destroyed. People are getting cancer. Older people are struggling to breathe. This is an interesting issue because I'm certain that there will be full agreement between the government and us on this issue. This is not an ideological issue. Everybody in this house would agree that air pollution, the damage it is doing to our people, is something that we would like to cooperate on."
The Congress scion demanded a joint approach between the government and the Opposition, in tackling the pollution issue. He said that this was not an issue of ideologies and the government should collaborate with the Opposition in finding a solution to the problem. He demanded a detailed discussion on the matter.
He said that the government must come up with a plan to tackle and get rid of pollution in the cities, across India. He further promised full support of the Opposition on the issue. He said, "We are more than happy to cooperate with the government to develop such a plan."
He said that both the government and the Opposition must come together to discuss the issue and show that they were in agreement on this fundamental issue. He further said that the best minds should come together to tackle the pollution problem plaguing the country. He also urged the Prime Minister to put in place a plan to tackle pollution in the coming years. He said that the PM should put forward a plan for the next, maybe 5 or 10 years to help curb pollution. He said that it may be that the current dispensation may not be able to resolve the problem, but at least they would be able to address it.
In response to Gandhi's concerns, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju had said that the House would definitely take up the matter. Now the debate about the pollution problem is scheduled for Thursday, December 18.
He said, "The government, from day one, had made our position very clear that on all important matters, the government is ready to discuss and also to find a solution, taking along the suggestions from all the members, including the principal opposition party led by Rahul Gandhi ji. Under the various laws and rules, we will see how we will take up this discussion."
Rijiju also invited suggestions from MPs from across party lines to tackle the issue. Now the Union Environment Minister will reply to the debate in the House at 5 pm on Thursday.
