BJP Claims AAP's Neglect of Road Repairs Caused Delhi's Pollution, Not Diwali Firecrackers

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of offending Hindu sentiments by attributing Delhi's pollution to Diwali firecrackers. BJP leaders argue that the city's air quality did not significantly worsen after the festival. They blame the AAP and its leader, Arvind Kejriwal, for failing to repair roads by October 31, which they claim is a more significant pollution source.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva highlighted that in both 2022 and 2023, the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded after Diwali was better than the previous day. Despite this, the AAP government has been campaigning against firecrackers and imposed a ban, which residents largely ignored. Sachdeva stated that dust from vehicles on damaged roads and vehicular emissions have a more substantial impact than firecrackers.

Pollution Sources and Political Accusations

Sachdeva urged Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and Environment Minister Gopal Rai to acknowledge their mistake in blaming Diwali firecrackers for pollution. He called for an apology to the Hindu community for allegedly defaming Sanatan traditions. Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta also pointed out that dust from broken roads significantly contributes to pollution.

Gupta suggested that proper road maintenance and cleanliness could reduce Delhi's pollution by half. After visiting Shastri Park, he noted that many roads remain unrepaired despite promises from Kejriwal and his successor, Atishi. He urged the AAP to focus on local pollution sources like dust instead of engaging in politics.

Yamuna River Pollution Concerns

Gupta also addressed the issue of sewage water polluting the Yamuna River. He claimed that insufficient sewage treatment plants (STPs) are a major problem. In Chilla, a plant with a 9 MLD capacity cannot handle the 101 MLD of sewage flowing into the river. Similar issues exist in Shastri Park and Kailash Nagar.

The situation at ITO crossing is similar, where an STP can only treat 10 MLD of the 50 MLD sewage entering the Yamuna. Gupta alleged that untreated sewage significantly contributes to river pollution. Meanwhile, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor argued that recent AQI data shows firecrackers did not increase pollution levels.

AAP's Response to Allegations

The AAP responded by claiming that Yamuna pollution spikes during Diwali and Chhath Puja are due to a conspiracy by the BJP. They accused BJP-ruled states Haryana and Uttar Pradesh of releasing industrial waste into the river, causing foam and pollution. The AAP suggested this is not accidental but deliberate.

The ongoing political blame game between BJP and AAP continues as both parties accuse each other of contributing to Delhi's environmental issues. The debate over pollution sources highlights broader concerns about air quality management and infrastructure maintenance in India's capital city.