Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: As Delhi-NCR continues to reel under toxic smog and severe air pollution, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has apologised to residents, stating that it is unrealistic to expect any elected government to bring down air quality levels within a short span of time.
Minister Admits Scale of Pollution Challenge
Addressing the worsening air quality, Sirsa said it is “impossible for any elected government to reduce AQI in just nine to ten months.” He apologised for the pollution situation in the capital and blamed the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for years of neglect. Sirsa claimed that the current administration is working sincerely to fix the problem and that air quality has shown daily improvement compared to earlier trends.
Stricter Curbs Announced to Control Emissions
The environment minister announced additional anti-pollution measures, stating that from Thursday only BS-VI compliant vehicles from outside Delhi will be allowed to enter the city. He also said that vehicle owners without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) will be denied fuel at petrol pumps starting the same day.
Air Quality Remains in Severe Category
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), several areas including Anand Vihar, Ghazipur, AIIMS and India Gate recorded very poor to severe air quality. Anand Vihar and Ghazipur reported AQI levels of 410 each, categorised as ‘severe’, while AIIMS and India Gate remained in the ‘very poor’ range.
GRAP Stage-IV Measures Enforced
With pollution crossing critical thresholds, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has enforced Stage-IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR. This is the strictest set of restrictions, implemented when AQI exceeds 450, aimed at limiting public exposure and preventing further deterioration of air quality.
Chief Minister Seeks Time to Address Long-Term Crisis
Earlier, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also addressed protests over pollution, stating that the crisis is the result of decades of neglect. She said the problem did not emerge overnight and would take time to resolve, adding that a backlog of 27 years cannot be cleared in a few months.
