Delhi Air Quality Slips: Minister Slams Previous Govts for 'Inaction'
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa slams previous governments for inaction as CAQM invokes GRAP Stage 1 due to poor air quality.
As the skies over the National Capital Territory begin to haze once again, the battle against pollution has sparked a fierce political confrontation. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has accused previous administrations of failing to take any concrete action to curb the city's deteriorating air quality, even as the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) officially invoked Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
GRAP Stage 1 Triggered as AQI Hits 'Poor'
The decision to implement GRAP Stage 1 comes after a sharp decline in air quality metrics. According to an order issued by the Sub-Committee on GRAP, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi saw a dramatic spike within 24 hours. On October 20, 2026, the AQI was recorded at 179, placing it in the 'Moderate' category. However, by 2:00 PM on October 21, 2026, the index surged to 244, pushing the city into the 'Poor' category.
Forecasts provided by the IMD and IITM suggest that the air quality is likely to remain in the 'Poor' category for the coming days, necessitating immediate regulatory interventions to prevent further degradation.
The Blame Game: 'Excuses' vs. 'Action'
Speaking at a press conference, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa did not hold back in his critique of the leadership from the last decade. He asserted that for the past 10 to 12 years, Delhi's air has become severely polluted while the previous government relied on excuses rather than solutions.
"The previous government kept making excuses, sometimes blaming Punjab, sometimes UP, Haryana, or Rajasthan, yet in all those 12 years, they failed to take any concrete action," Sirsa stated.
Claims of a Turning Tide
Despite the current dip in air quality, the Minister highlighted what he described as a significant turnaround in the city's overall environmental health. He pointed to data suggesting that the city has seen a reduction in seasonal pollution pressure.
Sirsa revealed that this year, Delhi recorded 214 days of 'good' or 'moderate' air. He emphasized that if the anomalous year affected by the COVID-19 pandemic is excluded, this figure represents a 12-year record. He attributed this success to a combination of government initiatives and the active cooperation of the city's residents.
Long-Term Strategies for a Cleaner Delhi
The Minister detailed several long-term interventions currently being implemented to ensure a sustainable improvement in air quality:
- Dust Mitigation: Extensive efforts to eliminate dust from all roads across the capital.
- Infrastructure: Ensuring end-to-end carpeting and paving of every road to reduce particulate matter.
- Green Mobility: A gradual and strategic transition from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs).
While the immediate focus remains on managing the 'Poor' air quality through GRAP measures, the administration insists that these systemic changes are the only way to break the cycle of seasonal smog in the National Capital Region.