New Delhi [India], October 21 : BJP MP Manoj Tiwari on Tuesday said that Delhi's air quality is improving and with strict control measures and technological interventions, it is expected that in the next two and a half years, the situation in the national capital will become breathable again.
Tiwari added that despite this year's Diwali being celebrated with green firecrackers, the Air Quality Index (AQI) remains better than previous Septembers.
"Their (AAP) 11-year tenure has just ended. We have been repeatedly saying that it will take us 2-2.5 years to bring Delhi to a health-friendly and breathable condition. Despite that, the same people who polluted Delhi make such statements, and it makes me laugh. Currently, Diwali is celebrated with green firecrackers. There is happiness among the people of Delhi. The AQI, which used to reach the dangerous category in September, is still below that in October," Tiwari told ANI while responding to Delhi AAP President Saurabh Bharadwaj's latest criticism on rising pollution levels.
Earlier today, Saurabh Bharadwaj launched a scathing attack on the BJP, asserting the Chief Rekha Gupta-led government has failed to control pollution following Diwali celebrations.
Bharadwaj claimed that the government has a collusion with private hospitals. "The government lies. The government said that after Diwali, we would fix all the pollution by conducting artificial rain. Did artificial rain happen? No, my question is that if you could have conducted artificial rain, then why didn't you do it? Do you (the government) want people to fall ill? The government has a collusion with private hospitals," he said.
Meanwhile, residents of Delhi have complained about breathing difficulties and irritation in their eyes following the rise in air pollution post Diwali celebrations.
Speaking to ANI, Sagar, a resident of the national capital, held people accountable for the dip in air quality.
He said, "Pollution hasn't just been increasing today; it's been increasing for years. Everyone blames politicians, but the people themselves are like this. People aren't improving themselves. You'll get firecrackers, but it's up to you whether to burst them or not. Then they'll complain that the government isn't doing anything... There are problems in breathing, irritation in the eyes."
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi stood at 357 as of 1 pm today.
During the 'very poor' air quality, residents might face breathing difficulties and develop respiratory illness on prolonged exposure.
The 'severe' air quality affects healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases, as per the CPCB.
An AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 is poor, 301-400 is very poor, and 401-500 is severe.
Ahead of Diwali, the Supreme Court had relaxed its earlier blanket prohibition on fireworks in the national capital and permitted the sale and use of green fireworks with some conditions.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had imposed Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the National Capital Region with immediate effect on Sunday.