Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday emphasised that the BJP government's "effective measure" kept the pollution level in the national capital "under control" before the Diwali festival.
He also added that the arbitrary bans on older vehicles imposed earlier have been rationalised, ensuring fairness without compromising environmental goals.
He alleged that the surge in stubble-burning incidents over the past few days was "no coincidence" and claimed that farmers were being provoked to ignite fires for political gain.
Delhi woke up to a thick smog on Tuesday morning, as the air quality deteriorated to the 'Very Poor' category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 351 as of 4 pm today.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, on Tuesday, accused the Aam Aadmi Party of "forcing" Punjab farmers to burn stubble, which raises pollution levels in the national capital.
As the national capital grapples with deteriorating air quality following Diwali celebrations, health experts have raised concerns about the rising Air Quality Index (AQI) and its impact on vulnerable groups, particularly children, the elderly, and those with respiratory ailments.
Reacting to AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj's statement, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari on Tuesday said that Delhi's air quality is improving and, with strict control measures and technological interventions, it is expected to take around 2-2.5 years to make the national capital health-friendly and brea
Malviya claimed that Punjab's practice of burning stubble is the primary cause of air pollution in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), rather than the festival of Diwali or firecrackers.
Bharadwaj's remarks came as New Delhi woke up to a thick layer of smog after the Diwali festival, with air quality deteriorating to the 'Very Poor' category and most monitoring stations falling in the 'Red Zone'.