Days after after several department heads skipped a meeting to review pollution mitigation measures in the national capital,  Delhi Environment Ministers Gopal Rai on Wednesday alleged that the Delhi government's first-of-its-kind study to determine pollution sources in the national capital has been halted unilaterally on the orders of Delhi Pollution Control Committee Chairman (DPCC) Ashwani Kumar.  In a note to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has demanded that Kumar be suspended for his "insensitive and irresponsible behaviour" and also urged to release the second installment to the  IIT Kanpur  so that source appointment study could be continue through winter months.

Delhi Services Minister Atishi also said the matter will be referred to the NCCSA for action against him. "The matter will now be referred to the National Capital Civil Services Authority (NCCSA) and the lieutenant governor, who will make the final decision. I am hopeful that the LG will make a decision in the best interests of the two crore Delhi residents," she said at a joint press conference with Environment Minister Gopal Rai. Kumar is member secretary of NCCSA that is headed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Chief Secretary of the Delhi government is third member of the panel.

In a press conference, Rai said the Delhi Cabinet had approved the study proposal in July 2021 and signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIT Kanpur in October 2022.

"The estimated cost was over Rs 12 crore. The Delhi government had released Rs 10 lakh to IIT Kanpur for the procurement of necessary equipment," he said. The minister claimed that Ashwani Kumar, who took up the role of DPCC chairman in December, made a file note earlier this year, expressing concerns about the "substantial expenses associated with the study".

Following several meetings with IIT Kanpur scientists, Kumar issued orders on October 18 to stop the release of the remaining funds to IIT Kanpur, effectively cancelling the study, Rai said. "It's very unfortunate that such a decision has been made at a time when Delhi urgently needs scientific data to address its pollution problem," he lamented.

The minister said Kumar also did not inform him or the Cabinet about his decision and his actions were in gross violation of the Transaction of Business Rules. Rai added that he has requested Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to suspend DPCC chairman Kumar for his "insensitive and irresponsible behaviour".

According to Rai, Kumar was convinced that the source of Delhi's pollution has to be internal factors and cannot be majorly attributed to outside factors such as biomass (stubble) burning.

Taking a dig at Rai, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva questioned the AAP minister's claim saying he should tell if stalling of Real Time Source Apportionment Study in February is responsible for rise of winter pollution then how come summer air remained clean while all through this year Minister Gopal Rai has been taking credit for giving Delhi clean air.

"Now when the winter pollution has struck and the pollution level is rising Gopal Rai to evade his responsibility is trying to pass the buck on officials," BJP leader said.

"He does not put forth any scientific basis for his conclusions. As the IIT-Kanpur report does not align with his idea of what causes pollution in Delhi, he is willing to sabotage the entire project with no care or concern for the people of Delhi and no respect for scientific research," Rai wrote in the letter.

"Kumar has been seeking validation of the scientific models employed by Kanpur. Despite multiple meetings with IIT-Kanpur and their responses explaining their validation model, he keeps rejecting the scientific work done by one of the most prestigious institutes of our country," he added.

Rai urged the chief minister that the remaining payment be immediately released to IIT-Kanpur and said the Delhi government will ask prominent scientists to review the pollution source apportionment study results after winter.

The Delhi environment minister alleged that Kumar is a "habitual delinquent" when it comes to routine government business and there have been serious complaints against him from other departments where he holds positions of power.It is a very important matter that needs to be investigated at the earliest. By halting a study of this magnitude and importance which is crucial for bringing Delhi's air quality to ambient levels, Kumar has endangered the life, health and public safety of the residents of Delhi, Rai alleged.