Published 14:57 IST, November 7th 2019
BJP leaders cycle to Delhi Dy CM's residence to offer a stubble bunch
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Goel along with other leaders rode bicycles to Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia's residence
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Goel along with other leaders rode bicycles to Delhi Deputy Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia's residence to offer him a stubble bunch on Thursday. Goel targeted Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal over the rising menace of air pollution in the nation's capital. In an interview, Goel stated, "Delhi Government is not serious about air pollution."
Vijay Goel posts a tweet of the leaders cycling
'What about the remaining 90%'
Hitting out at the Arvind Kejriwal led-government, Goel added, "They have not done anything to reduce it. They can't even tell what work they have done so far to combat it. Today, a report has come that stubble burning is only responsible for 10% of pollution, then what about the remaining 90%." Goel further stated, "They have exempted two-wheelers vehicles which were the major cause of pollution in Delhi. They are doing politics over the Odd-Even scheme."
Kejriwal's claim debunked
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday evening claimed that the level of PM (Particulate Matter) 2.5 in the city was 39 and that of PM 10 was 96 at 2 pm. Air quality number in the range of 0 to 50 is considered as "good" while anything between 51 to 100 is "satisfactory". However, when fact-checked, the claim stood busted.
According to data available on the National Air Quality Index
According to the data available on the National Air Quality Index, the level of PM 2.5 at Anand Vihar was 333 (Very Poor category) while that of PM 10 was 217 at 2 pm. In the north-east suburb of Sonia Vihar, PM 2.5 was recorded at 253 while PM 10 was 164. Nehru Nagar had a PM 2.5 level of 170 while PM 10 was recorded at 168. Dwarka-Sector 8 had a PM 2.5 level of 107 while PM 10 was 267. At Lodhi Road, PM 2.5 was recorded at 124 and the level of PM 10 particles was 82. National Air Quality Index is maintained by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPBC) of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Hence, if going by the data put out by the principal air quality monitoring agency, then CM Kejriwal's claim of a cleaner air falls flat. Delhi, nonetheless, had its second consecutive day of cleaner air. After an extended bout of hazardous levels of pollution, air quality in the national capital and its adjoining areas on Wednesday improved to the ‘poor' category due to the positive influence of high-speed winds.
(WITH INPUTS FROM ANI)
Updated 21:00 IST, November 7th 2019