After a two-day gap, Delhi's air quality plunged into the "very poor" category again on Sunday, as winds in the national capital that improved pollution levels the last couple of days lost its speed even as the BJP and AAP took potshots at each other for the situation with the former calling the ruling party unserious and the latter blaming the pollution on Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi's average Air Quality Index (AQI) at 4 pm was recorded at 356, a marked increase from Saturday's reading. According to the CPCB data at 6 pm, a total of three monitoring stations have AQI readings in the "severe" category including Bawana an aqi of 407, Burari recording 402 and Jahangirpuri recording 403.
Further, Anand Vihar recorded an aqi of 392, Alipur recorded 379, Ashok Vihar recorded 380, Aya Nagar recorded 336, DTU recorded 320, Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range recorded 357, Dwarka Sector 8 recorded 348, IGI airport (T3) recorded 333, ITO recorded 350, Lodhi road recorded 321, Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium recorded 372, Mandir Marg recorded 354, Mundka recorded 375, NSIT Dwarka recorded 328, Najafgarh recorded 307, Narela recorded 340, Nehru Nagar recorded 387, Delhi University’s North Campus recorded 350, Okhla Phase 2 recorded 392, Patparganj recorded 360, Punjabi Bagh recorded 363 and Pusa recorded 335 in the ‘very poor’ category.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), wind speed in the city was calm at 0 kmph. Delhi's air quality had improved from 'very poor' to 'poor' category the last two days due to favourable winds. A layer of smog blanketed the city in the early hours on Sunday, making visibility difficult.
According to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, the meteorological conditions are unfavourable for effective dispersion of pollutants while the air quality is likely to be in ‘very poor’ to ‘severe’ category for subsequent six days.
Meanwhile, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva criticized the Delhi government and said that it is unserious about controlling pollution. “For Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai pollution is merely a way to stay in the news,” he said.
“The primary cause of air pollution in Delhi is either the stubble burning in Punjab or the dust from Delhi’s poorly maintained roads, yet the Environment Minister does not say a word about rising pollution in Punjab or the failure of the Delhi Public Works Department to repair roads — because both issues fall under the responsibility of AAP governments,” he claimed.
He added that like every year, Gopal Rai is once again trying to protect his government by blaming Diwali firecrackers for rising pollution, even though there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. “His anti-Hindu mindset is the only reason behind this stance,” Sachdeva alleged.
Hitting back at the BJP, AAP claimed, “It is well established that the situation at Anand Vihar is worsening because of the pollution of Diesel buses at Uttar Pradesh’s Kaushambi Depot. Cases of stubble burning are rising each day in BJP ruled Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. On the other hand Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are discharging high volumes of industrial waste in Yamuna.”
In a statement, the party alleged that if Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta and BJP truly care for Delhi, they should stop the theatrics and work with their state governments to address the pollution problem.
