Delhi’s AQI falls to ‘very poor’; AAP, BJP trade charges

Last updated:Oct 27, 2024 9:32 PM IST

After a two-day lull, air quality in Delhi became ‘very poor’ as calm winds prevented the spread of pollutants. Some areas in the national capital recorded ‘severe’ pollution levels.

People and vehicles are seen on a road amid morning smog in New Delhi. (File photo: Reuters)

The BJP and AAP exchanged views on pollution levels in Delhi on Sunday as the air quality in the national capital again entered the ‘very poor’ category.

Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta lashed out at the AAP government, alleging that it had “completely failed” in controlling the city’s rising pollution.

The people of Delhi are being forced to breathe suffocating air as AAP engages in “hollow promises and low-level politics”, said Gupta.

In response, AAP said in a statement that if Gupta and his party really cared about Delhi, they should stop their “theatrics” and work with state governments led by the BJP to tackle the pollution problem in the national capital.

After a two-day lull, air quality in Delhi became ‘very poor’ as calm winds prevented the spread of pollutants. Some areas in the national capital recorded ‘severe’ pollution levels.

At 4 pm, Delhi’s 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 355, down from 255 on Saturday, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed.

The CPCB shared data from 37 of the city’s 40 monitoring stations. It showed that three stations – Bawana, Burari and Jahangirpuri – recorded ‘severe’ air quality.

Air quality was also ‘very poor’ in adjoining areas such as Greater Noida, Ghaziabad and Noida and ‘poor’ in Faridabad and Gurugram.

Gupta claimed that the pollution situation had become so critical that the AQI near ITO and Anand Vihar was recorded at 361 and 405, falling under ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories respectively.

“This poses a serious threat to the health of the residents of Delhi (who are) covered by smog. Yet, the AAP government lacks both the will and a concrete plan to improve the situation,” he accused.

Pollution has reached such serious levels that schoolchildren have begun to fall ill, leading to a significant drop in visitor numbers. Those still attending school are required to wear masks, Gupta added.

Despite such an “alarming situation”, the government remains “inactive” as it discharges its duty by merely introducing formalities such as measures under Phase II of GRAP, he said.

“The government also does not control the smoke released during stubble burning nor does it reduce dust on the roads. Due to the absence of a standing committee in the Delhi Municipal Corporation, the civic body is also failing to combat pollution,” the BJP leader said.

According to the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), a set of emergency measures to control air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region during winter, air quality is divided into four phases: Phase I – ‘poor’ (AQI 201-300 ); Stage II — ‘very poor’ (AQI 301-400); Stage III — ‘severe’ (AQI 401-450); and stage IV – ‘severe plus’ (AQI above 450).

Meanwhile, AAP said it was “well known” that the situation in Anand Vihar was deteriorating due to pollution caused by diesel buses at Kaushambi depot in Uttar Pradesh.

The number of stubble burning cases is increasing day by day in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, it claimed.

AAP also responded to Gupta’s allegations that former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal ‘misused’ millions of rupees from the Delhi government’s coffers by repeatedly making false promises to clean the Yamuna.

The river remains as polluted as ever, Gupta said.

AAP backtracked on the allegation and said pollution in Yamuna was increasing due to large amount of industrial effluent entering the river from BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI)