NEW DELHI: On Monday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) attempted to attribute the pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR to Haryana, emphasising the state’s close proximity to the national capital. Priyanka Kakkar, AAP’s national spokesperson, called for a review of the pollution control efforts implemented by the government led by Manohar Lal Khattar since 2014.
“The stubble burning in Punjab is about 500 km away from here and the stubble burning in Haryana is 100 km away. An analysis should be done on anti-pollution measures taken by the Khattar government in Haryana since 2014,” Kakkar said at a press conference in Delhi as reported by Hindustan Times.
She also noted that there was a 31 per cent reduction in air pollution levels in Delhi. “In the Economic Survey 2022-23, the central government acknowledged that the air quality in Delhi has been the best in the last eight years. CAQM data also shows that there has been a 50-67 per cent reduction in stubbing burning in Punjab,” she emphasised.
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The air quality in the capital city remained ‘severe’ on Monday, while Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal convened a high-level meeting at the Delhi Secretariat at noon. According to the Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi, it is anticipated that the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital will remain ‘severe’ for at least the next few days.
On Sunday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) activated stage IV of the graded action response plan (GRAP), thereby enabling the implementation of further pollution control measures.
In accordance with the 8-point action plan, there will be a restriction on the entry of truck traffic into Delhi, with the exception of trucks transporting essential goods or providing essential services, as well as LNG, CNG, or electric trucks. Additionally, a prohibition will be enforced on the operation of diesel-powered Medium Goods Vehicles (MGVs) and Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) registered in Delhi, except for those involved in transporting essential goods or providing essential services.
