The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi has identified buses arriving from Uttar Pradesh as a significant factor contributing to the worsening air quality, particularly in the Anand Vihar area.
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and Environment Minister Gopal Rai conducted an inspection in Anand Vihar, where the Air Quality Index (AQI) registered a severe level of 454 at 8:30 AM. They emphasized the measures being implemented to combat air pollution, including the formation of teams dedicated to dust control and the deployment of over 325 smog guns.
Atishi stated, “We are rigorously implementing anti-pollution measures across Delhi. We’ve established 99 teams focused on dust control and have mobilized resources from the PWD and MCD. Anand Vihar, situated on the Delhi-UP border, is one of the hotspots for high AQI levels.”
During their visit, Atishi and Rai reviewed pollution control efforts, which include road repairs to minimize dust and drives to remove encroachments in congested areas. The Chief Minister pointed out that the influx of buses from Uttar Pradesh significantly contributes to poor air quality, indicating a need for discussions with the UP government.
Rai echoed her concerns, stating that emissions from these buses are “doubling the pollution” levels in Delhi. He urged the UP government to implement water sprinkling at the Kaushambi bus depot to help mitigate the issue. “Anand Vihar has been experiencing high pollution levels for the past 4-5 days due to the diesel buses arriving from Uttar Pradesh,” he explained.
Addressing pollution in the Yamuna River, Rai criticized the BJP for creating problems and then making videos about them. He reassured that cleaning efforts are in progress, especially in preparation for the upcoming Chhath Puja.
As air quality continues to decline, areas like Dwarka reported an AQI of 311 (Very Poor), ITO at 232 (Poor), and Jahangirpuri at 350 (Very Poor). The Central Pollution Control Board has warned that severe AQI levels can impact healthy individuals and severely affect those with pre-existing health conditions. The rise in pollution has also led to visible toxic foam on the Yamuna River in the Kalindi Kunj area in recent days.