Delhi pollution: Manish Sisodia says ‘BJP should take responsibility for AQI levels’
Delhi air pollution: Manish Sisodia called for an immediate solution and asked what the Central government has been doing about deteriorating air quality.
As the air quality index in Delhi-NCR reached alarming levels, Manish Sisodia, the former deputy chief minister of Delhi, said on Monday that the pollution menace transcends the political divide and the BJP should also take it seriously.
"At present, the whole country is suffering from pollution. We have to look at pollution above politics and BJP also has to take it seriously. It is not a subject for which you can blame the Aam Aadmi Party only. At this time the whole of North India is in the grip of severe stubble burning,' ANI quoted Sisodia as saying.
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The former minister also called for an immediate solution from the Bharatiya Janata Party and asked what the Centre had been doing about Delhi's deteriorating air quality.
"BJP has to understand that they have a government at the centre... What has their government been doing at the centre for so many years?... Instead of blaming the Aam Aadmi Party, what is the central government doing?... They should take responsibility for what will be achieved by mere rhetoric," he added.
Delhi air pollution: Environment minister Gopal Rai calls review meeting
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai will hold a meeting with the Heads of Departments of all concerned departments on Monday at 3 pm for the effective implementation of the GRAP IV.
The minister further stated that the negligence of officials contributed to the rising pollution level despite the implementation of GRAP-4 regulations.
READ | Delhi’s toxic air equals smoking 49 cigarettes a day as AQI hits an alarming 978
"After the implementation of GRAP-4, we called a meeting at noon with all the concerned departments. However, the negligence of officials is so high that even after GRAP-4 was enforced, no Head of Department (HOD) attended the meeting. That's why we had to cancel the noon meeting. We have sent notices to all departments for a rescheduled meeting at 3 PM," Rai told PTI.
Delhi AQI reading highest in 2024
A thick blanket of toxic smog engulfed most parts of northern India on Monday and readings of air quality in the capital New Delhi hit their highest this year after dense fog overnight, Reuters reported.
Delhi pollution live updates: SC asks NCR states to form teams to monitor GRAP-4 restrictions
The smog, a toxic blend of smoke and fog, happens each year in winter as cold air traps dust, emissions, and smoke from illegal farm fires in some surrounding states.
Visibility dropped to 100 m (109 yards) in Delhi and Chandigarh, a city northwest of the capital, but authorities said flights and trains continued to operate with some delays.