Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Delhi’s Minister for Environment, Forest, and Wildlife, took to social media to share the ongoing efforts by the BJP-led government to combat the growing air pollution in the national capital. In a post on X, he emphasized the urgency of improving Delhi’s air quality, stating, “Clean air isn’t a luxury—it’s a right.” He highlighted the government’s on-ground dust mitigation measures, positioning these as part of the broader vision outlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to transform Delhi into a developed city.
The issue of air pollution has become even more pressing in recent times. A recent report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India brought attention to the shortage of public transport buses in Delhi, which has been contributing to the worsening air quality. According to the CAG report, the city is short by 2,250 buses, which has resulted in poor last-mile connectivity options and increased vehicular emissions. This shortage is further exacerbated by the lack of route rationalization, meaning the existing fleet of buses is not being utilized to its fullest potential. The report also raised concerns about the limited number of Gramin Sewa Vehicles, which have remained unchanged since May 2011. This shortfall, along with other issues such as the stoppage of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses’ connectivity to NCR, has led to many bus routes being left unserved.
The CAG report also pointed out the inadequate enforcement of checks on polluting vehicles entering Delhi. With 128 entry points into the city, only seven have enforcement teams equipped with necessary equipment to inspect vehicles for pollution levels. This insufficient enforcement, coupled with a shortage of staff and equipment, is seen as a significant barrier in reducing vehicular pollution. The report stressed the need for a better framework to monitor emissions from commercial vehicles.
Amid these concerns, Sirsa has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of deliberately worsening air quality to tarnish the BJP’s image. He stated that the BJP has been consistently working to improve Delhi’s air quality, and the city’s air has shown improvement over the years. In his social media posts, he criticized AAP for allegedly taking extreme measures to create pollution, including gathering trash in parks and setting it on fire, to harm the city’s air quality and defame the BJP government.
