In a joint meeting of states with the Central government on Friday, the Delhi government urged the Union Environment Ministry to impose a complete ban on firecracker burning and the movement of diesel buses across the National Capital Region.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai told the media that Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav held a meeting with environment ministers of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Rai said Delhi suggested several measures to curb pollution in the entire NCR region during the meeting.

Earlier, Rai had requested the Centre to convene a meeting of all NCR states to collaboratively develop an action plan to combat pollution during the winter season.

In a letter to Union Environment Minister, Rai had said that the Delhi government has taken numerous steps to curb air pollution during the winter season but these steps won’t be effective unless Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh address the sources of pollution in the NCR region.

(With inputs from PTI)