Taking a surprise jab at BJP-ruled Delhi over AQI, the Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, on Saturday slammed Delhi’s air quality, comparing it to a “gas chamber,” and saying that people in Uttar Pradesh have better air quality in their state despite ongoing development work.
The dig came while he was addressing the inaugural ceremony of a renovated Block Development officer’s office, where he said environmental degradation had come out as one of the biggest global challenges and highlighted its significance in maintaining ecological balance.
“The environment here is quite good; there is no pollution. Without pollution, there are fewer diseases. Whenever pollution exists, it harms the lungs. If our supply of oxygen is compromised, the entire body suffers,” he explained.
“You see the condition in Delhi? It feels like a gas chamber. The situation is dire; breathing is difficult, and there’s a burning sensation in the eyes. Doctors advise those suffering from asthma, as well as the elderly and children, to stay indoors. What kind of life is this?” He added, talking about Delhi’s air quality.
“We are fortunate here; we have development without a suffocating environment,” he added.
Delhi’s Air Quality
The air quality in the capital deteriorated on Sunday morning, turning it into the “poor” category. The forecast highlights that the air quality index is likely to remain in the same category for about the next six days.
“The air quality is likely to be in the moderate category on Saturday. The air quality is likely to be in the poor category from Sunday to Monday. The outlook for the subsequent six days is that the air quality is likely to be in the poor category,” forecasts by the Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) for Delhi said.
“Delhi has never seen such a failed government. Somewhere people are falling into potholes, somewhere drains are flowing on the roads, and the AQI just isn’t coming under control. February has already arrived, but the BJP government still doesn’t seem to be making even the slightest effort to reduce pollution,” the AAP X account posted.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was at 211 at 9 am on Saturday, slipping into the “poor” category. As per standards, an AQI between 0 and 50 is classified as “good,” 51 to 100 as “satisfactory,” 101 to 200 as “moderate,” 201 to 300 as “poor,” 301 to 400 as “very poor,” and 401 to 500 as “severe.”
