Delhi Minister Addresses Air Pollution Crisis, Blames Previous Government

NEW DELHI: Manjinder Singh Sirsa, the Environment Minister of Delhi, publicly apologised on Tuesday for the severe air pollution affecting the capital, acknowledging the health risks it poses to residents, particularly children. Sirsa stated that it is unrealistic to expect any government to significantly reduce air pollution levels within a short timeframe, as Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) continues to endure hazardous smog conditions.

"It is impossible for any elected government to reduce Air Quality Index (AQI) in 9-10 months. I apologise for the pollution in Delhi. We are doing better work than the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, and we have reduced AQI each day. This disease of pollution is given to us by the AAP, and we are working to fix it," Sirsa remarked. In response to the ongoing crisis, Sirsa announced new measures aimed at curbing pollution levels. Effective Thursday, only Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) vehicles from outside Delhi will be allowed entry into the city. Furthermore, vehicles lacking a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) will be prohibited from purchasing fuel at petrol stations starting from the same day.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), several areas in Delhi, including Anand Vihar, AIIMS, Ghazipur, and India Gate, reported air quality levels classified as very poor to severe. Anand Vihar and Ghazipur each recorded an AQI of 410, categorised as 'severe', while AIIMS and India Gate logged AQIs of 397 and 380, respectively, both in the 'very poor' category. With pollution levels surpassing critical thresholds, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has activated all measures under Stage-IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR. This stage is the strictest level of restrictions, invoked when the AQI exceeds 450, and aims to reduce public exposure and prevent further deterioration of air quality.

Last week, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta addressed public protests regarding rising pollution levels, stating that the crisis is a result of years of neglect and will require time to resolve. Speaking at an event in Pitampura, she remarked, "Those who make big statements and protest at India Gate… pollution is not something that appeared today; it has been a problem for years. What did the previous government do? Where were you at that time? This is a backlog of 27 years.

The government needs at least 27 months to clear the backlog of 27 years." The ongoing pollution crisis has sparked significant public concern, with experts warning of its potential long-term health impacts. The government's new measures are seen as a step toward addressing the persistent air quality issues that have plagued Delhi for years.