Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Rejects Delhi Minister’s Claim on Stubble Burning and Pollution

By A Staff Reporter

CHANDIGARH — Punjab Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh on Wednesday refuted statements made by Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa regarding stubble burning in Punjab as a major contributor to Delhi’s air pollution.

Terming Sirsa’s remarks as “illogical and baseless,” Singh said, “When smoke from Punjab is not causing any trouble in Punjab, Chandigarh, Ambala, Kurukshetra, then how can it cause trouble in Delhi? The entire Indo-Gangetic plain is suffering from pollution.”

He emphasized that the main contributors to pollution are vehicles, industrial emissions, construction activities, and garbage burning, with firecrackers only adding to the problem. “In Punjab, stubble burning has reduced by 60-70%. Pollution in Pakistan’s Punjab is 20% higher than here. Pollution smoke doesn’t respect borders,” he added.

Singh also called for coordinated action at the national level, suggesting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi engage in discussions with Chief Ministers of different states to address pollution. “Nothing will come out of abusing Kejriwal,” he remarked, stressing the need for constructive dialogue over political point-scoring.