‘Delhi Maange More’ for Happy Diwali Amid Air Pollution: Oppn Guns for Kejriwal; AAP Blames Hry, UP

Air pollution in the national capital, along with many parts of Northern India, has hit the ‘severe’ level.

Primary schools in Delhi have been shut till November 10, and for classes 6 to 12, schools are being given the option of shifting to online classes. As Diwali approaches, there is a sense of inevitability that pollution levels will soar, even though bursting of firecrackers, including green, is completely banned.

The Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM), set up by the central government a couple of years ago, has imposed stage four of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), with a ban on diesel vehicles within, non-essential construction activities and entry of diesel trucks and light commercial vehicles into Delhi.

As in the past, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced a 15-point winter action plan at the end of September. Almost every other week, Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai held meetings with stakeholders, launched the government’s awareness drives and conducted inspections on the ground to monitor the implementation. Just a day ago, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Vinai Saxena chaired a meeting where the Delhi environment minister was also present.

Yet, as is clearly visible, these measures have had little impact.

‘AAP GOVTS IN BOTH DELHI AND PUNJAB’: BJP, CONGRESS IN ATTACK MODE

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi has come in for strident criticism from the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress, particularly as AAP now has a government even in neighbouring Punjab. The BJP is holding Arvind Kejriwal to his word.

BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said, “On November 3, 2022, one year ago, when the level of pollution was like this, the central government was giving all assistance to the government of Punjab as well as the government of Delhi and taking solid steps to tame pollution. However, an incompetent Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann did not implement those steps."

Bhatia also quoted Kejriwal when the latter was asked about pollution: “We are responsible. Today, if crop residue is burnt in Punjab, we are responsible. We understand our responsibility. We accept our responsibility. We have completed six months in government, this is a chronic problem of many years. Give us one more year. By next year, we will address the issue."

Additionally, holding a picture of the dysfunctional smog tower that was inaugurated with great fanfare, Bhatia alleged that the smog tower was set up and people’s money was spent on it, there would be some “wasooli" and some “kickbacks".

The Congress, which is part of the opposition’s INDIA bloc with AAP, also decided to gun for the embattled CM, who skipped the ED summons, demanded its withdrawal and chose to campaign for his party.

Newly announced Delhi Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely said, “Why did the government wake up when the situation turned dangerous. If there is delay in metro construction and flyovers, government projects etc, it is only natural that there would be more dust in the air. Footpaths and roads are broken, and there is inadequate green cover. Isn’t it natural the air will be full of dust particles?"

Lovely also reminded that “once upon a time, Delhi was awarded for being the cleanest and greenest city" and pointed out that “something has gone wrong".

STEPS NOT ENOUGH; RAI ATTACKS BJP GOVTS IN HARYANA, UP

As the AAP rules both Delhi and Punjab, it has come under attack for failing to do enough. The government has taken many steps, including switching over to electric vehicles and inducting 800 electric buses into its fleet with its own resources as well as subsidy provided by the central government. Incidentally, the CM had pointed out that Delhi has the highest number of electric buses plying on its streets. However, its efforts fade in the face of the massive challenge posed by winter pollution. Additionally, as has been pointed out by many studies, the grave winter pollution is not just a Delhi phenomenon, but cuts across the whole of North India.

Rai’s helplessness came across when he told the Centre, “Kuch to karo, you rule the Centre, you have governments in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh."

Additionally, Rai has been stressing that just 30% of the pollution that Delhi struggles with is due to its own sources, while the rest comes from beyond Delhi’s borders, including Punjab. The minister has also alleged that senior officials of the government do not attend the crucial meetings on pollution and decisions such as shutting down the smog tower were taken without even informing the minister concerned. In a meeting with Saxena, Rai asked him to ensure the presence of senior officials as well as take action against DPCC Chairman Ashwini Kumar. Rai has also written to Delhi Chief Minister reiterating the issue. He has also written to the Union environment minister.

8-POINT PLAN IN PUNJAB

Mann has announced an eight-point action plan to address stubble burning that includes distribution of machines to clear stubble, engaging with industry to process the stubble and awareness drives.

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), a Central Government PSU, has set up a Second Generation (2G) bio-refinery plant at Bathinda, Punjab which is designed for utilization of paddy straw for production of ethanol for blending with petrol under the Ethanol Blending Program of Central Government.

This, the CAQM said, “would significantly reduce the instances of paddy straw burning in Punjab". There has been a decrease in the number of farm fires in Punjab as well as in Haryana.

“Haryana and UP have not banned firecrackers till now, means they are planning to increase the pollution of Delhi. Two smog towers were built, but no one is talking about Anand Vihar Smog Tower, and CP Smog tower which was closed illegally. I have written to the government to take action against responsible officers…Punjab stubble burning is not polluting Delhi, because the wind is slow and that pollution is not reaching Delhi. Haryana and UP stubble burning is polluting Delhi because these states are closer than Punjab," said Rai.

As Diwali approaches, Delhi’s air quality is expected to dip further. However, it was not all bad. As the CAQM had pointed out the daily average air quality in Delhi, for the 10-month period between January and October, was its best index compared to the corresponding period during the last six years, barring the Covid-affected 2020.

The AAP chief is under attack from the opposition for the hazardous air quality in Delhi now as the measures taken by Punjab and Delhi have proven to be just incremental. Questions will be asked whether Kejriwal and Mann could have done more.

However, it is also plain that the challenge of winter pollution is a multistate affair and no state government can provide solution on its own.