Delhi Pollution Crisis: Govt Demands Centre to Take Emergency Measures in North India

New Delhi: Amid worsening air quality in national capital, Aam Ami Party leer and Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Monday criticised BJP-led central government for its "inaction" and demanded urgent measures to tackle pollution across North India. Rai highlighted Delhi's strict implementation of GRAP (Gred Response Action Plan) Stage 4 guidelines while urging Centre to coordinate efforts with states to dress crisis.  

" Delhi government is doing its part. We have reduced stubble-burning incidents in Punjab significantly. However, central government needs to step up and take emergency measures to save North India," Rai said during a press conference. 

He ded that stubble-burning cases in Uttar Presh h increased from 1,500 to 2,500 this year, worsening pollution situation.  

Rai accused Union Environment Minister of failing to take proactive steps and questioned Centre's repeated delays in forming a collaborative action plan.

He also pointed to presence of BS-IV vehicles in Delhi and surrounding areas as an unresolved issue.  

Earlier, BJP spokesperson Shehz Poonawalla criticised AAP government, accusing it of politicising pollution issue while failing to act on air and water contamination in Delhi. " Kejriwal government has done nothing to dress Delhi's pollution. y blamed stubble burning in Punjab before coming to power re but are now silent," he alleged.  

situation in Delhi worsened on Monday, with Air Quality Index (AQI) crossing 'severe plus' threshold. On Sunday, AQI hit 457, prompting Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to impose GRAP Stage 4 measures across Delhi-NCR, including a ban on non-essential construction and industrial activities.  

Delhi has faced persistent air quality challenges during winter due to a combination of stubble burning in nearby states, vehicular emissions, and industrial pollution. 

Gred Response Action Plan (GRAP) was introduced as a multi-stage regulatory mechanism to combat air pollution. Despite se efforts, region continues to grapple with severe air quality levels each year, especially during crop-burning season.