As toxic air enveloped Delhi on Monday, CM Atishi sharply criticized the Central government for its alleged failure to address the growing crisis of stubble burning in neighboring states, blaming the issue for the hazardous air quality in North India, including the national capital.
Speaking to the media, CM Atishi accused the BJP-led central government of shirking its responsibility and indulging in politics instead of taking practical measures to tackle the air pollution caused by unchecked stubble burning in states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
CM Atishi stated, “I want the Central government to tell the people if it has taken even a single step in the last seven years to control the menace of stubble burning.”
“What steps has the Central government taken in the past seven years to check stubble burning in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh,” she added.
To emphasize that the problem was widespread, the Delhi Chief Minister referred to a report from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which showed that cities like Ghaziabad, Noida, and Hapur in Uttar Pradesh, as well as Gurugram and Hisar in Haryana, were grappling with dangerous air levels since Sunday evening.
CM Atishi commended Punjab, a state governed by her own party, AAP, for successfully reducing stubble burning. She highlighted a significant drop in farm fires in Punjab this year, with 8,404 incidents reported in comparison to 36,650 last year.
CM Atishi asked, “If the Punjab government can reduce stubble burning, why are these incidents increasing in other states?”
Madhya Pradesh Sees 9,600 Stubble Burning Incidents, Says CM Atishi
Turning her focus to Madhya Pradesh, CM Atishi revealed that between 15 and 17 September, nearly 9,600 incidents of stubble burning were recorded, contributing heavily to the region’s deteriorating air quality.
“Over 700 incidents of stubble burning are occurring daily in Madhya Pradesh, which is contributing to severe air quality. If you look at the air quality in other cities, it has also reached very poor and severe levels,” she noted.
Calling for a collective approach to combat the crisis, CM Atishi asserted, “The Central government has to take the lead and adopt a collective approach for tackling the problem as the toxic air impacts elderly and children from all parties in all states.”
Her remarks came on the same day that Delhi BJP organized a protest in central Delhi, distributing free air masks to residents. BJP leader Sachdeva advised Delhiites to stay indoors and wear masks for the next week, as Delhi’s pollution levels reached hazardous levels.
CM Atishi responded to the BJP’s mask distribution by accusing the party of politicizing the issue. “Why are farm fires escalating in BJP-ruled states like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh?” she questioned. “If Punjab can control the problem, so can others.”
According to the CPCB, Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) surpassed 450 at many monitoring stations, indicating hazardous conditions.
Meanwhile, neighboring areas like Noida and Faridabad recorded AQI levels of 384 and 320, respectively, while Ghaziabad and Gurugram faced severe air quality conditions with AQI readings of 400 and 446.
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