Gross Negligence By Delhi Government Reason Behind City's Poor Air Quality: Delhi LG

Delhi's Lieutenant Governor (LG), V K Saxena, expressed his displeasure over delay by the Delhi government in issuing orders on pollution control measures in the capital.

Saxena termed the inordinate delay in issuing orders to mitigate air pollution by the chief secretary as gross negligence.

"The lapse on the part of the Delhi government is due to the fact that Environment Minister Gopal Rai did not clear the file related to issuing such orders for about a month," LG claimed.

The chief secretary, in compliance with a November 2019 order of the Supreme Court and an order of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) dated 5 August, 2022, sent the file for approval to Rai on 22 October.

The file was returned to the chief secretary on 17 November without any observation of the Minister. As per the established norm, a file has to go to the Minister concerned before it is forwarded to the LG for approval. After almost a month of lag, the file was sent to the LG by the chief secretary.

Approving the file, the LG expressed dismay and displeasure at the Delhi government's gross negligence in this matter of public concern.

The order by the chief secretary would have required various departments to set responsibility and accountability of implementing measures to manage construction and demolition waste, control dust and water pollution, repair roads, shut down industries in non-compliant areas, prohibit open burning of biomass and solid waste, and enforce pollution control certificates.

It is to be noted that at the peak of air pollution in the capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had called it a "North India" problem, urging the centre to intervene.

However, he did not mention the steps his government has taken in the capital to mitigate the man-made disaster.

Countering the allegations, the Delhi government said a 15-point action plan has been launched by Chief Minister Kejriwal to check air pollution during winters in the capital. However, the air quality levels in the capital continue to be in 'hazardous' category.

(with inputs from PTI)