Delhi’s air quality remains in a concerning state, with the city recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) categorized as ‘very poor’ for the second consecutive day on Monday. The situation is expected to worsen with Diwali approaching, as environmental and meteorological factors contribute to pollution levels. The AQI readings from multiple monitoring stations reveal troubling statistics: Anand Vihar at 358, Jahangirpuri at 370, Bawana at 380, Burari Crossing at 364, Rohini at 357, Ashok Vihar at 361, RK Puram at 362, and ITO at 327 – all indicating a ‘very poor’ air quality.
The AQI slipped to ‘very poor’ again on Sunday after a brief two-day improvement due to favorable winds that momentarily cleared the air. However, this improvement was short-lived, as wind conditions subsided, allowing pollutants to accumulate. With stubble burning from neighboring states and the potential increase in firecracker use during Diwali, experts warn that AQI levels could cross into the ‘severe’ category by October 30.
In the midst of the escalating pollution crisis, a political blame game has erupted. Leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have exchanged accusations over who is responsible for the capital’s pollution levels. Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta, criticized the AAP government for its alleged inability to curb rising pollution, claiming that it has “utterly failed” in addressing the environmental challenge. Gupta noted that rising pollution levels have led to increased absenteeism in schools, as children struggle with respiratory issues due to deteriorating air quality. He further accused the AAP government of making empty promises about cleaning the Yamuna River, citing no visible improvement in the river’s pollution levels.
Responding to the BJP’s accusations, AAP officials claimed that Yamuna pollution is primarily caused by the high volume of industrial wastewater discharged by BJP-governed states Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. AAP maintained that its government has implemented substantial pollution control measures within Delhi’s jurisdiction but that the influx of wastewater from neighboring states contributes significantly to the Yamuna’s pollution, complicating cleanup efforts.
Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva added a dramatic note to the controversy when he recently took a dip in the polluted Yamuna River to underscore the need for urgent action on water quality. Sachdeva, however, was later hospitalized due to health complications from the incident. Expressing satisfaction with his symbolic act, Sachdeva stated, “For me, the cleanliness of the Yamuna before Chhath Puja is more important than my health, and today I am satisfied that my plunge into the Yamuna has triggered widespread criticism of the Kejriwal government’s corruption and negligence under the guise of Yamuna cleaning.”
As air pollution levels worsen in Delhi, the debate over accountability between the BJP and AAP continues, intensifying as pollution threatens public health in the capital. With Diwali just around the corner, environmental experts and health officials caution that the combined effects of stubble burning, firecracker emissions, and stagnant weather conditions could push AQI levels into dangerous territory. The coming days will test both political and public efforts to mitigate pollution in one of the world’s most densely populated cities.
