Delhi CM Atishi blames Centre for not taking steps to curb air pollution

The Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Monday blamed the Centre for not taking any steps to mitigate the deteriorating air quality in the North India region.

The national Capital woke up to a dense fog with the AQI plunging further to 481 in the ‘severe-plus’ category.

“All of North India has been plunged into a medical emergency as stubble burning continues unchecked across the country. All cities across the country - in UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, Haryana, MP and Delhi - are reeling under severe levels of pollution,” the CM said.

She claimed that the Punjab government had reduced farm fires. The farm fires in Punjab were reduced to 36,650 in 2023 from 71,300 in 2021, she said. “This year when 80 per cent of the farm fires have been conducted, it was reduced to 8,404 farm fires in Punjab,” she added.

Meanwhile in other neighbouring states the farm fires increased significantly, Atishi said.

“But look at the data of other states. In UP, stubble-burning incidents have gone up by 60% compared to last year. Last year 1533 farm fears occurred and this year it increased to 1926. Stubble burning is happening in Rajasthan. In 2020, around 430 incidents of stubble burning occurred and by 2024, it went up to 1926. The highest number of stubble-burning incidents in the country is taking place in Madhya Pradesh. Centre's own data says that from 15th September to 17th November, 9,600 incidents of stubble burning have occurred in Madhya Pradesh...When Punjab Government can bring down the incidents of stubble burning by 80%, why are such incidents rising in other states?” she added.

Blaming the Central Government for taking any concrete steps she said, “Despite rising severity of stubble burning across India for last 5 years, the Central Government has taken no concrete step to curb the same. All of North India is paying the price for this, especially children and elderly, who are struggling to breathe…”