India, Nov. 15 -- Letter for meeting was issued a week ago

Only four of 29 members attended a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee of Urban Development on deteriorating air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region.

A November 8 letter called them all to discuss the role of the region's municipal bodies, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and National Buildings Construction Corp (NBCC) in reducing air pollution.

The meeting, however, had to be cancelled. Along with 25 members of Parliament, the vice-chair of DDA, municipal commissioners and the joint secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change didn't turn up.

The ministry, however, said it was represente...