Delhi Minister urges people to use public transport

As Delhi reels under severe air pollution, Environment Minister Gopal Rai appealed to the people to use public transport, including the metro and buses, to control pollution due to vehicles.

Gopal Rai said, “I appeal to the people of Delhi to use public transport, including the metro and buses, to control pollution due to vehicles. The decision on the further closure of schools in Delhi will be taken on the basis of air quality on November 6.” Delhi Minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said on Friday that the severity of the conditions in Noida, Gurugram, or Faridabad is higher than in Delhi. Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “The severity conditions that are in Noida, Gurugram, or Faridabad are higher than in Delhi. It is not good to defame the people of Delhi.”

“Delhi is the only state where a diesel generator is banned. In Noida and Gurgaon, most of the electricity comes from generators. Brick kilns are banned in Delhi. There are CNG and electric buses in Delhi. Did Haryana and UP have electric buses? We are doing everything… Punjab’s number of stubble burnings is in front of everyone… It has decreased as compared to past years. Does the Centre not have any responsibility?” said Bharadwaj.

Meanwhile, as air quality in several parts of Delhi-NCR plunged to the’severe’ category on Friday morning, people said they experienced breathing problems and irritation in the eye, among others. There was a thick haze blanketing the skyline of the national capital and adjoining areas as the Air Quality Index (AQI) breached the 400 mark at multiple locations. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI stood at 498 in Mundka, followed by 491 at Jahangirpuri.