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Agencies:

95% air pollution in Delhi due to local factors, AAP govt responsible for them: Adesh Gupta

New Delhi
October 16, 2020

Delhi BJP President Adesh Gupta on Friday claimed that crop stubble burning accounts for only 5 % of air pollution in the city while local factors contribute to the remaining 95 % for which the Arvind Kejriwal government is to be blamed. Gupta said the BJP ruled municipal corporations in the city are "battling air pollution at the forefront" and alleged that the Delhi government is busy with publicity only.

No immediate reaction to the claims and allegations made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was available from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

"In Delhi, crop stubble burning accounts for 5 % air pollution. Rest 95 % of pollution is due to local factors for which the Delhi Government is answerable. It should tell what steps it has taken so far to tackle pollution," Gupta said in a joint press conference with three mayors of the party ruled municipal corporations. The mayors elaborated on the steps taken by the three corporations to tackle air pollution.

Gupta also alleged that the Delhi government is hampering work of municipal corporations by depriving them of due funds.

A total of around Rs 13,000 crore is pending so far that the Delhi Government has to pay to the three corporations, he claimed.

"We just want to ask the Delhi Chief Minister if his government is concerned only about publicity," Gupta said.

East Delhi Mayor Nirmal Jain said a special chemical is mixed in water used by 40 sprinklers that keeps dust settled for longer period of 8-10 hours as compared to plain water. "We are working on the ground to tackle pollution but have received no help from the Delhi Government. It announced to pay us Rs 310 crore but gave just Rs 94 crore," Jain claimed.