If you would look at Delhi’s AQI map in this week, it would look less like what it is and more like a map marking Delhi’s historical landmarks’ locations along with their years of construction because of figures crossing 1000. Each winter, Delhi faces severe air pollution, primarily exacerbated by a combination of local emissions, vehicular exhaust, construction dust, and agricultural practices such as stubble burning in neighbouring states like Punjab and Haryana.
This annual onset of smog has led to a predictable cycle of political blame, with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) exchanging accusations regarding the failure to effectively manage pollution.
The Supreme Court has intervened multiple times, emphasising the need for immediate and coordinated action across state lines, yet political rivalries often hinder collaborative efforts.
The implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has introduced various measures, including restrictions on vehicle use and construction activities, but these are frequently criticised as reactive rather than proactive solutions.
As the air quality deteriorates, public health concerns escalate, prompting emergency measures such as school closures and work-from-home policies for government employees. In the interim, the political discourse surrounding air quality management also runs parallel, reflecting broader issues of governance, accountability, and the urgent need for sustainable environmental policies, highlighting the challenges of addressing a crisis that transcends administrative boundaries.
- AQI: Air Quality Index, a numerical scale used to communicate the quality of air, where lower values indicate better air quality and higher values indicate worse conditions, with levels above 300 considered ‘very poor’ and above 400 ‘severe’.
- Stubble Burning: The practice of burning crop residue after harvest, primarily in Punjab and Haryana, which releases large amounts of smoke and particulate matter into the air, exacerbating pollution in Delhi.
- GRAP: Graded Response Action Plan, a set of emergency measures implemented in Delhi to combat air pollution, activated in stages based on the severity of the air quality index.
- BJP: Bharatiya Janata Party, the ruling political party at the national level in India, often criticised for its handling of environmental issues, particularly in relation to pollution in Delhi.
- AAP: Aam Aadmi Party, the local governing party in Delhi, frequently engaged in political blame games with the BJP regarding the city’s pollution crisis.
Viewpoints 💭
- The left criticises the central government for inadequate action on air pollution, emphasising the need for collective efforts across state lines to address the crisis.
- They advocate for long-term, sustainable solutions such as renewable energy adoption and stricter enforcement of environmental regulations.
- The left highlights the socio-economic disparities exacerbated by pollution, calling for policies that protect vulnerable populations.
- They support initiatives like cloud seeding and the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) as immediate measures to combat pollution, despite questioning their effectiveness.
- The left blames neighboring states, particularly those led by BJP, for stubble burning and insufficient regional coordination, affecting Delhi’s air quality.
- While the left criticises the central government for inaction and socio-economic disparities, the right highlights the AAP’s failure to manage local pollution effectively and advocates for accountability.
- The left supports immediate measures like GRAP and cloud seeding, questioning their effectiveness, whereas the right calls for practical reforms and proactive enforcement of existing regulations.
- Stubble burning is viewed by the left as a regional coordination issue, blaming BJP-led states, while the right sees it as a traditional practice needing agricultural reform rather than political blame.
- They criticise the AAP government for failing to manage local pollution sources effectively, highlighting unfulfilled promises on public transportation and infrastructure improvements.
- The right supports measures like the Graded Response Action Plan but argues for more proactive solutions, including technological advancements and improved satellite monitoring.
- None
- The right calls for enhanced accountability and enforcement of existing pollution control measures, criticising delays in implementing stricter actions.
Prominent Voices 📣
- Atishi Marlena Singh (Chief Minister of Delhi): Criticises the central government for inaction on pollution and emphasises the need for actionable solutions.
1 - Gopal Rai (Delhi Environment Minister): Criticises the central government for inaction and stresses the need for emergency measures and coordination to tackle pollution.
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3 - Advocate Aparajita Singh (Amicus Curiae at Supreme Court): Criticises the lack of enforcement on bans for fireworks and stubble burning, stressing the need for strict implementation.
4 - Indra Shekhar Singh (Agriculture policy analyst): Criticises policymakers for failing to address pollution and suggests corruption hinders progress.
5 - Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (Congress General Secretary): Calls for urgent solutions, describing Delhi’s air as a ‘gas chamber’.
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Show more - Anmol Panwar (AAP representative): Blames BJP for advocating firecracker use and stresses enforcement challenges in pollution control.
7 - Mumtaz Patel (Congress leader): Criticises both Delhi and Central governments for disputes and inaction exacerbating pollution.
6 - Reena Gupta (AAP leader): Argues for collective action on pollution and notes the need for inter-state cooperation.
8 - Robert Vadra (Entrepreneur and husband of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi): Criticises political blame games over Delhi’s air pollution and calls for unity among leaders.
9 - Sandeep Dikshit (Congress leader): Expresses frustration over the Delhi government’s inadequate response to pollution and urges central government intervention.
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- Bhupender Yadav (Union Minister of Environment): Engages in discussions on potential use of cloud seeding technology to address pollution.
11 - Harsh Malhotra (Union Minister and BJP leader): Criticises AAP for failing to address pollution and links it to health risks.
8 - Omesh Saigal (Former Chief Secretary of Delhi): Suggests focus on implementation is limited to the Diwali period and cultural aspects should be considered.
7 - Virendra Sachdeva (BJP Delhi President): Criticises AAP government for negligence in handling pollution and highlights Haryana’s actions against stubble burning.
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13 - Shehzad Poonawalla (BJP Spokesperson): Accuses AAP of failing to address air quality issue and shifting blame.
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Show more - Pradeep Bhandari (BJP spokesperson): Criticises Arvind Kejriwal for prioritising personal comfort over public health.
14 - Manoj Tiwari (BJP Leader): Accuses Delhi government of failing to implement effective local pollution measures.
15 - Harish Khurana (BJP leader): Criticises the AAP government for dodging accountability and not addressing pollution directly.
16 - Ramvir Singh Bidhuri (BJP leader): Accuses AAP of failing to control stubble burning affecting Delhi’s air quality.
16 - Shazia Ilmi (BJP Leader): Criticises Delhi government for handling of pollution and questions use of public funds.
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Show less Sources 📚
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BBC.com – India: Delhi shuts primary schools as hazardous smog worsens
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The Hindu – Delhi air pollution: Delhi Government launches anti-dust campaign to tackle pollution
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The Times of India – Delhi pollution update: Capital chokes as AQI hits hazardous levels; Government deploys anti-smog guns
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Health Policy Watch – Delhi Air Pollution: Is Government’s Satellite Monitoring Missing Stubble Fires?
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NewsX – Smog Or Politics, Who’s Choking Delhi? AAP Plans For Artificial Rain To Curb Pollution
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Devdiscourse – Delhi’s Air Pollution Sparks Political Blame Game
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Times Now – Delhi Pollution Politics Peak: Diwali Shrouds City Under Smog; SC Raps Punjab, Haryana |Mirror Prime
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News Karnataka – Delhi Smog: Political Blame Game Amid Deteriorating Air Quality
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India Today – Robert Vadra to Delhi government on air crisis: Time for imaginative solutions
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The Times of India – Delhi-NCR Air Pollution News Today Live Updates: Medical emergency in northern India due to stubble burning, says CM Atishi
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News9 LIVE – Delhi’s air pollution crisis: Government pushes for artificial rain to save the city
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The Hindu – Air quality in Delhi remains ‘very poor’, government initiates action
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Frontline – Delhi Air Pollution Crisis Deepens: GRAP Stage II Activated, Health Impacts Mount
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The Economic Times – Pollution has reached life-threatening levels: BJP slams Arvind Kejriwal over Delhi’s deteriorating air qu
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India Today – Delhi-NCR air quality, smog trigger political blame game and penalties
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Evrim Ağacı – Delhi’s Air Pollution Sparks Political War
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The Hindu – Delhi’s air pollution worsens, residents complain of breathing difficulties
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