BJP's 'dirty politics' responsible for growing air, water pollution in Delhi: Atishi
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi has held the BJP responsible for the escalating air and water pollution in the city. As winter sets in, the air quality in the national capital is rapidly deteriorating, and thick layers of toxic froth have surfaced on the Yamuna River, particularly in areas like Kalindikunj.
Atishi exonerated AAP-ruled Punjab, shifting the blame to stubble burning, diesel buses, and brick kilns in BJP-led Haryana for contributing to the poor air quality in Delhi. She further accused thousands of diesel buses from Uttar Pradesh (UP) reaching Kaushambi bus depot and brick kilns in the National Capital Region (NCR) of exacerbating pollution. The Chief Minister also slammed the BJP for allowing untreated industrial wastewater from Haryana and UP to pollute the Yamuna. According to Atishi, Haryana discharges 165 million gallons of untreated industrial wastewater daily into the river, while UP releases 65 million gallons.
Atishi defended Punjab's efforts in reducing farm fires, citing government data that showed a significant drop from 71,300 incidents in 2021 to 36,600 in 2023. In contrast, Haryana and UP saw an increase in farm fires, further worsening the pollution in Delhi. She questioned why BJP-governed states couldn’t achieve similar reductions. In response to the growing pollution in Yamuna, Atishi announced that the use of silicone-based defoamers would begin to reduce the froth layer on the river’s surface. Despite the challenges, she reaffirmed AAP’s commitment, under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal, to combat pollution and improve the quality of life for Delhi residents.