Delhi’s AQI Worsens: CM Atishi Holds BJP Responsible for Farm Fire Pollution

Delhi’s AQI Worsens: CM Atishi Holds BJP Responsible for Farm Fire Pollution

Chief Minister Atishi blamed the BJP-led central government for failing to stop stubble burning, a significant source of dangerous air pollution in the city, as Delhi’s air quality fell to a “severe-plus” category. Her comments coincided with the Supreme Court criticizing the Delhi government, led by the AAP, for its tardy crisis response.

‘North India in a Medical Emergency’: CM Atishi

Chief Minister Atishi highlighted the dire situation in North India during a press conference on Monday. The primary cause of the declining air quality in the region is stubble burning in neighboring states including Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana. The central government, she argued, was focusing on politics rather than taking practical steps to solve the issue.

Why has there been a rise in stubble burning within the last six to seven years? What actions has the national government taken to put an end to it? Atishi was asked. She also asserted that the AAP-led Punjab government had successfully cut stubble burning by 80%, and she questioned why other states had not made the same strides.

Severe Smog Blankets Delhi-NCR

Thick pollution enveloped Delhi and its surrounding cities, including Gurugram, Noida, and Ghaziabad, on Monday, with some regions reporting visibility that was almost nonexistent. According to the Sameer app, the total Air Quality Index (AQI) hit a dangerous 484, which triggered Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). To lower vehicle emissions, this policy may result in the odd-even automobile regulation being implemented.

Supreme Court Questions Delhi Government’s Measures

On Monday, the Delhi administration was asked by the Supreme Court to explain why it had delayed putting GRAP’s Stage 4 measures into effect in spite of the concerning increase in pollution levels. It increased scrutiny of the AAP-led administration’s handling of the issue by calling for accountability.

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North India’s deteriorating air quality has swelled into a health-related crisis, featuring the squeezing need for composed activity to battle contamination sources like stubble consumption.