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The Delhi government has issued a work order to install air purifiers at the Delhi Secretariat. This comes just days after the Chief Minister encouraged residents to celebrate a traditional Diwali with fireworks. The decision has faced strong criticism and accusations of hypocrisy, especially since the capital’s air quality is poor. TMC leader and Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra shared her disdain for the order on X. She highlighted the government’s lack of attention to the yearly air pollution crisis in the capital while spending public money on air purifiers. Delhi government buys 15 smart air purifiers through PWD The work order for “RMO E&M Services at Delhi Sachivalaya, New Delhi Sachivalaya during 2025-26,” issued by the PWD (Public Works Department), approves the supply and installation of 15 smart air purifiers at various spots in the Secretariat building. The total cost is Rs 5,45,175, and each purifier costs Rs 36,345. The order states that the purifiers must use multistage air purification technology and have at least three filters: a pre-filter, an activated carbon filter, and true HEPA technology. They should be suitable for areas of around 1,000 square feet. AQI Hits 346 Post-Diwali The purifiers must deliver a minimum clean air rate of 400 cubic meters per hour, measure PM 2.5 in real-time, ensure 100 % ozone-free filtration (since ozone can generate free radicals), and operate at noise levels below 66 decibels in Delhi. Each unit will come with a one-year warranty. The timing of this order raises questions, especially since the chief minister recently promoted a traditional Diwali celebration and her government has approved the use of green crackers. This is the same government now installing air purifiers, a move that critics view as an acknowledgment of the dangerous air quality expected after the festival. “The pre- and post-Diwali gap in average AQI this year is smaller than last year’s, even with firecrackers allowed this time,” Gupta said at a press conference. Read also: India Celebrates Bhai Dooj on October 23, 2025, Honoring Sibling Bonds
