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The capital city of Delhi is grappling with a severe air pollution crisis, with the air quality deteriorating consistently over the past week. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has blamed the worsening situation, particularly in the Anand Vihar area, on emissions from buses commuting to Delhi from neighboring Uttar Pradesh. Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, along with Environment Minister Gopal Rai, have inspected the Anand Vihar area, where PM 2.5 levels have reached 454, placing it in the 'severe' category.
Atishi and Rai have pointed fingers at the Uttar Pradesh government, accusing it of releasing untreated effluents into the Yamuna river, contributing to the frothing pollution. They have also highlighted the use of diesel-powered buses in the UP fleet, in contrast to Delhi's CNG and electric buses, as a major contributor to the pollution in Anand Vihar, which is a major bus terminal. They have called on the UP government to introduce cleaner buses, mirroring Delhi's efforts, and to engage in joint action to address the issue.
The Delhi government has taken several steps to combat air pollution, including deploying 99 teams to carry out dust control measures, deploying over 325 smog guns, and utilizing PWD and MCD resources. However, they acknowledge that the Anand Vihar area, being located on the border of Delhi and UP, faces a significant pollution burden from the neighboring state. The Delhi government has urged the Yogi Adityanath-led government to take measures like water sprinkling at the Kaushambi bus depot, which lies opposite Anand Vihar, to reduce pollution.
The AAP government has criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for sensationalizing the pollution issue, while accusing them of failing to take adequate measures to control it. They have stated that the Delhi government is actively working to clean up the pollution, particularly in preparation for the Chhath Puja festival.
While the AQI in other parts of Delhi remains in the 'poor' and 'very poor' categories, the severe levels in Anand Vihar highlight the urgent need for coordinated efforts between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh to address the issue. The increasing severity of Delhi's air pollution poses a serious health hazard to its residents, underscoring the need for effective measures to mitigate the problem.
Source: Delhi pollution hits ‘severe’ levels, AAP govt blames buses coming from UP