While Delhi grapples with severe air pollution, Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) convened a meeting on Friday to discuss the adoption of enhanced curbs to control the situation.
Amid the worsening air quality, Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena called for an urgent meeting with CM and Environment Minister on Friday evening to take stock of the situation. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Saxena said the situation arising out of air pollution in the city is “extremely worrying”.
The situation arising out of air pollution in the City is extremely worrying. I have asked Hon'ble CM & Hon'ble Minister (Environment) for a meeting at Raj Niwas at 06:00 PM today, to take stock of the situation.
— LG Delhi (@LtGovDelhi) November 3, 2023
“I have asked CM & Minister (Environment) for a meeting at Raj Niwas at 06:00 PM today, to take stock of the situation. I appeal to the people to remain indoors as much as possible and to not expose themselves- especially children & elderly to hazardous ambient conditions wherein AQI has reportedly crossed 800 at places,” he said.
Presently, Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has been implemented as Air Quality Index (AQI) turned ‘severe’. On Friday morning the AQI further slipped and turned into ‘severe plus’. In the wake of the deteriorating air quality, the Commission is planning to invoke Stage 4 of its graded response plan.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi was 475 at 11 am, which was higher than the 450 recorded last year. While in the morning, the AQI stood at 346.
GRAP Stage 4 is put into motion when the AQI crosses 450 mark. The measures under it include a ban on the entry of trucks into Delhi as well as on construction activities on highways and roads.
Political war over air pollution
Delhi BJP accused Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of indulging in "political tourism".
"The inaction and insensitivity of the Kejriwal government has turned Delhi into a gas chamber," said Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva. Sachdeva in a statement said the AQI has reached 700 in Anand Vihar and the next 48 hours are going to be very "dreadful" for Delhi.
"Unfortunately, Kejriwal is busy with political tourism and there is no one to control air pollution. Delhiites are complaining of itching and breathlessness and children are falling ill. Only Kejriwal is responsible for all this," Sachdeva said.
While, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said the BJP is blaming CM Kejriwal for the air pollution in Delhi, but he is not responsible for the poor quality in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
There are two smog towers in Delhi—one in Anand Vihar and the other in Connaught Place. The one in Anand Vihar is run by the central government, while the other one by Delhi government.
“DPCC's chairman, Ashwani Kumar, joined in December. His payment has been stopped by IIT Bombay, and for the past 8 months, the smog tower has been closed. We are tired of saying it again and again, but he's not ready to open it. Though it is the decision of the cabinet and it's the order of the Supreme Court and still, they have closed it... These conditions are against us, but in these conditions, if other states like Haryana and UP would have been active like Delhi, then the situation could improve,” Rai told ANI.
"Pollution is increasing all around Delhi and surrounding areas, so I request that the Union Environment Minister should be active. BJP has government in UP and Haryana, they should be active," Rai said in a press conference, reported NDTV.
Citing a study Rai said 60 per cent of the air pollution in Delhi comes from neighbouring states. The minister also cautioned that next 15 days would be critical for the entire Delhi-NCR and that all state governments should remain vigilant.
