'Doubling Delhi's pollution': AAP blames UP buses for deteriorating air quality

NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government has pointed to buses from neighboring Uttar Pradesh as a key factor behind the deteriorating air quality in parts of the capital, especially in the Anand Vihar area.

While conducting an inspection of Anand Vihar area where the AQI had reached a "severe" level of 454 by 8:30 am along with environment minister Gopal Rai , chief minister Atishi said that Delhi is taking significant measures to combat air pollution, deploying specialized teams for dust control and other anti-pollution efforts.

"Anti-pollution measures are being strictly deployed in Delhi. We have formed 99 teams who are carrying out dust control measures across Delhi. We have started the process of deploying more than 325 smog guns. PWD and MCD have deployed all their resources to combat pollution in Delhi. Anand Vihar, being on the border of Delhi and UP, is one such hotspot where the AQI is the highest," Atishi said.

Atishi noted that the Anand Vihar area, located near the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border, is one of the city’s major pollution hotspots . "Anand Vihar’s AQI is extremely high due to its proximity to UP, and the buses arriving from there are a significant contributor to the poor air quality," she said.

Atishi also highlighted efforts to control pollution at the local level, including road repairs to minimize dust and encroachment removal to ease congestion. However, she stressed the need for collaboration with Uttar Pradesh, saying, "We need to discuss this issue with the UP government, particularly regarding the buses coming from there."

In addition to the bus-related pollution, Atishi expressed concern over the rising pollution levels in the Yamuna River. "Untreated effluents from Haryana and UP are being discharged into the Yamuna, further aggravating the situation," she said.

Environment Minister Gopal Rai too attributed the severe pollution in Anand Vihar to emissions from diesel buses arriving from Uttar Pradesh. "The smoke from these buses is doubling the pollution in Delhi," Rai said.

He urged the UP government to implement water sprinkling measures at the Kaushambi bus depot, located just across the border from Anand Vihar, to help mitigate the situation. "We can solve this problem through joint efforts," Rai added.

As air quality continues to worsen across the national capital, multiple areas have recorded concerning AQI levels. Dwarka’s Sector 8 registered a "Very Poor" AQI of 311, while ITO stood at 232, marked under the "Poor" category. Jahangirpuri's AQI reaches 350, also falling into the "Very Poor" category. Nehru Park and its surrounding areas saw an AQI of 254, indicating "Poor" air quality.

The Central Pollution Control Board has warned that AQI levels in the "Severe" category can impact even healthy individuals and seriously harm those with pre-existing conditions. Prolonged exposure to "Very Poor" air quality can cause respiratory illness, while "Poor" air quality can lead to breathing discomfort, particularly among vulnerable populations.