NEW DELHI: Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva on Saturday alleged that while the winter was approaching, environment minister Gopal Rai was only writing letters instead of taking concrete steps to ensure that air pollution remained under control during the season.
“In the past decade, due to Arvind Kejriwal’s negligence, winter pollution in Delhi has escalated to such an extent that millions suffer from respiratory issues every year, and many even die unexpectedly.Last year saw the worst pollution levels in Delhi’s history,” he claimed.
Sachdeva said that based on the experience of pollution in the past decade, especially last year, Delhiites hoped that AAP govt would wake up in 2024, but it was “regrettable that Rai was merely sending letters and presenting some rehearsed points in press conferences to evade responsibility.”
The Delhi BJP president said that winter pollution was a very serious issue and sincere long-term measures were needed to combat it. “It is necessary to work on a policy plan with neighbouring state govts to combat winter pollution.”
Sachdeva alleged that the necessary willpower, long-term arrangements and funds required to fight winter pollution were nowhere to be found in Rai’s letters and press conference suggestions. “Rai has publicly disclosed two letters written to the Centre in the last fortnight, but he has not disclosed any letter that he might have written to Punjab govt regarding stubble burning, which is the biggest contributor to winter pollution in Delhi,” he added.
Punjab’s CM Bhagwant Mann belongs to AAP.
Over Rai urging central govt to hold a meeting to look into the feasibility of artificial rain, the Delhi BJP president further claimed that many environmental experts had already deemed the suggestion of artificial rain unnecessary and ineffective.
Hitting back at the remarks, AAP said, “Why is BJP avoiding the meeting? Rai, prioritising the interests of Delhiites, requested a meeting with the Union environment minister to meet and discuss measures for further reduction of pollution, but BJP is unfortunately running away from the meeting.”
“Does the Union environment minister have no time to meet, or is there another reason for the delay? We are preparing a 14-point winter action plan to address the situation when it arises, and ‘artificial rain’ happens to be one of them,” stated the party. “Delhi govt requires specific permissions from BJP-led central govt to conduct artificial rain,” it added.
“In the interest of the people of Delhi, it is crucial for all governing bodies to unite, setting aside boundaries and political affiliations,” AAP said.
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