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Delhi Air Quality: A toxic haze enveloped Delhi on Tuesday as AQI levels plummeted in the national capital day after Diwali due to people bursting firecrackers on Diwali night beyond the two-hour limit set by the Supreme Court even as the citys BJP government has blamed the AAP dispensation in neighbouring Punjab for the surge in pollution claiming it forced farmers to burn a record amount of paddy stubble the previous night. What is Delhis current AQI? According to a Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) bulletin Delhis Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 359 in the very poor category at 11 am. It was 352 at 8 am 346 at 5 am 347 at 6 am and 351 at 7 am. It stated that of the total 38 monitoring stations 35 were in the red zone indicating very poor to severe air quality. While 31 were in the very poor category four were in the severe category according to the CPCBs SAMEER app which provides real-time AQI data from monitoring stations. Jahangirpuri recorded an AQI of 409 Wazirpur 408 Bawana 432 and Burari 405 -- all in the severe category the data revealed. On October 15 the Supreme Court had passed an order allowing the use of green firecrackers in Delhi-NCR between 8 pm and 10 pm on Diwali which was celebrated on Monday. However many flouted the courts directions with celebrations continuing late into the night PTI reported. Why BJP blamed Punjabs AAP govt? Meanwhile Delhis BJP government has blamed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) regime in Punjab for the toxic haze in the capital city alleging that the neighbouring state forced farmers to burn a record amount of paddy stubble on Diwali night. Addressing a presser on Tuesday Delhis Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa accused the AAP of playing religion politics and alleged that while AAP leaders condemned the Delhi CM the BJP and Sanatan Dharma followers over festival celebrations large-scale stubble burning in AAP-ruled Punjab is the real reason for Delhis deteriorating air quality. Sirsa said that every religion has the right to celebrate its festivals indicating bursting of crackers is an indispensable way of celebrating Diwali. The minister stressed that despite the lifting of the ban on green firecrackers this year Delhis air quality index (AQI) rose only marginally from 345 before Diwali to 356 the next morning an increase of just 11 points and later the AQI ncreased by 32 units and in 2023 by 83 units. This little increase of just 11 points was observed this year even though it was reported that the highest number of stubble-burning incidents occurred last night We admit with pride that our government has given people the opportunity to celebrate Diwali in the traditional way Sirsa said while videos purportedly of burning of crop residue in Punjab. (With PTI inputs)
