New Delhi: As Delhi chokes due to alarming air pollution levels, Chief Minister Atishi on Monday lashed out at the governments of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan over stubble burning that has plunged the national capital into a “medical emergency”.
She further claimed the Centre is “sitting idle” amid the air crisis in Delhi and several parts of north India.
At a press conference, Atishi attacked the BJP-led central government for politicising the issue of pollution while failing to address stubble burning in states like Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh—all governed by the BJP.
Praising the AAP-led Punjab government, she highlighted that it is the only state where stubble-burning incidents have significantly decreased. In contrast, she claimed, such cases have risen in BJP-ruled states.
Atishi expressed concern over Delhi’s deteriorating air quality, stating that the elderly are being hospitalised, and children are relying on inhalers and steroids to breathe.
#WATCH | Air pollution | Delhi CM Atishi says, “…Stubble burning is happening in Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Central Government is sitting idle. Today, entire north India has been pushed into a medical emergency. Be it Delhi, Chandigarh,… pic.twitter.com/GjayUtLkPf
— ANI (@ANI) November 18, 2024
Delhi AQI in ‘severe plus’ category
On Monday, Delhi’s air quality plunged into the ‘severe plus’ category, with the city recording an AQI of 484. In response, stricter pollution control measures were implemented, including a ban on truck entry and a suspension of construction at public projects.
Supreme Court raps Delhi government
Atishi’s fresh salvo comes following the Supreme Court’s lashing of her government as it questioned the administration’s handling of Delhi’s worsening air quality. The government invoked the third stage of anti-pollution measures — GRAP-3 last week and escalated to the fourth stage this morning. However, this decision came after an inexplicable delay—GRAP-3 was implemented just hours after Environment Minister Gopal Rai had announced it would not be, despite the AQI having already crossed 400.
According to GRAP regulations, an AQI above 400 necessitates the immediate enactment of third-stage measures, as the air quality falls into the ‘severe’ category.
The Supreme Court, which reviews anti-pollution and AQI control measures each winter due to the recurring nature of the crisis, posed pointed questions to the AAP government. These included why the enforcement of GRAP-3 had been delayed and how effectively the measures were being implemented.
