Why Is AAP At Receiving End As Delhi Air Quality Plummets To Severe Category?

Delhi BJP leaders have come down heavily on the AAP over rising air pollution in the national capital.

"The residents of Delhi and Punjab are breathing poison and that is only because of Delhi CM. Despite having facilities provided by the central government, the Kejriwal and Mann governments have done nothing to control the air pollution," Indian Express quoted BJP Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia as saying at a press conference.

The air quality in Delhi has become hazardous, and the incidents of farm fires in Punjab have exceeded last year's count. An environmental ministry study has highlighted the severity of the situation, he said. "Delhi residents are asking for answers on why stubble burning is not being stopped in Punjab," Bhatia added.

The BJP attacked the AAP government for its "incompetence" to solve the stubble issue despite being in power in both Delhi and Punjab.

"Kejriwal will make false promises and will lie to the people that he will prepare for the next pollution wave but is doing nothing to resolve the current situation," Bhatia said.

Amit Malviya, In Charge of BJP's IT Cell, has claimed that the air quality has worsened because of parali being burnt in "AAP-ruled Punjab."

Last week, he had said that the cause of the poor air quality affecting not just Delhi but the entire northern region of India was the 1,019 incidents of farm fires in Punjab, governed by the AAP. On X, he said, "1,019 instances of farm fires in AAP run Punjab on the day of Diwali is the reason for poor air quality in not just Delhi but whole of north India. Arvind Kejriwal failed farmers of Punjab, who were expecting 1,000 per acre for their Parali," he added.

Even netizens are sharing their anguish over the AAP over the air pollution issue. "so now you are ruling in #delhi and #punjab. you had done nothing in both the state except politics. you mad lot of noise against past ruling government in both tates and now the result is same. shame on @aap," a user said on X.

Another user who is not happy with firecracker ban on Diwali in Delhi said, "Works out just fine. #AAP govt in #Punjab facilitates crop stubble burning to ruin the air over #Delhi. #AAP govt in Delhi gets a pretext to clamp down on Diwali fireworks & blame #DelhiAirQuality on a Hindu Festival."

The third user stated, "AAP ran bankrupt punjab started turning North India into a gas Chamber Again. In Delhi it'll cause lots of health Hazzard to people and the government sleeping as usual, AAP is beating around the bush, by ignoring Stubble burning that started from 25 Oct.#Delhi #DelhiAirQuality"

What AAP Says?

However, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has blamed the central government for rising incidents of stubble burning in Punjab and said it should "resign" if it cannot control air pollution.

He has said that the Punjab government had prepared a plan to give a cash incentive of Rs 2,500 per acre to farmers so that they are not forced to burn stubble.

"The Centre rejected the proposal. They said they won't do anything for the farmers because of their protests against the three farm laws. The central government's hatred for farmers is the reason behind the smoke (from farm fires) all around," Kejriwal claimed.

He claimed that the Delhi government has been taking every possible measure to combat air pollution and has rigorously enforced restrictions on pollution-inducing activities through the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Likewise, the Punjab government has undertaken all essential actions to curb stubble burning.

"If the Centre cannot control air pollution, it should resign. We will then show how to do it," he said.

According to the proposal, Delhi and Punjab would give Rs 500 each and the Centre would contribute Rs 1,500 per acre.

Farmers say that a monetary incentive would assist in offsetting the expenses incurred for the fuel utilized in operating machinery for in-situ management of paddy straw.

As per Punjab government officials, the Centre declined the proposal, stating that it already supplies subsidized machinery, like happy seeders, rotavators, and mulchers, for the in-situ management of paddy straw. The explanation given was that there isn't available funding to provide cash incentives.

"If the entire north India is reeling under air pollution, who will find a solution to it? The prime minister will have to do it. He will have to convene meetings with everyone. Why isn't the PM doing that?" Kejriwal said.

Meanwhile, Delhi's air quality plummeted to the "severe plus" category on Friday morning, a stage at which all emergency measures, including a ban on polluting trucks, commercial four-wheelers, and all types of construction, are mandated to be initiated and enforced in the National Capital Region.

These measures constitute the final stage of the Centre's air pollution control plan and should ideally be activated at least three days prior to the Air Quality Index surpassing the 450 mark in the capital, as outlined in a policy document prepared by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

On Friday, Delhi's Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that it's incorrect to assume that the Delhi government can entirely manage pollution. Despite various measures implemented, such as prohibiting non-essential construction activities and restricting BS-3 petrol and BS-4 diesel cars, concerns persist regarding why Delhi faces this emergency situation every year in the first week of November.