New Delhi, Jan 9 (NationPress) Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa stated on Friday that despite the pollution crisis inherited from the Arvind Kejriwal administration, the BJP government is committed to addressing it head-on. He emphasized, “We will not avoid the issue of pollution; we will confront it and eliminate it.”

During his comprehensive address in the Delhi Legislative Assembly, Sirsa provided a factual overview of the pollution challenges in Delhi, tracing its history and the current government's strategic response.

He declared, “Our approach will not involve evasion. We will tackle pollution directly.”

Sirsa highlighted significant milestones, referencing the landmark M.C. Mehta vs Union of India (1984–85) case and associated Supreme Court mandates regarding CNG usage, industrial relocation, and vehicle emission regulations.

He pointed out that despite these pivotal actions, Delhi’s air quality has worsened significantly since 2014.

According to the Minister, from 2014 to 2025, international organizations like WHO and IQAir ranked Delhi as the world’s most polluted capital, illustrating the failures of the previous AAP government.

He referenced stern remarks from the Supreme Court, High Court, and NGT, which labeled Delhi as a “gas chamber” and “uninhabitable,” yet noted that no substantial corrective actions were taken.

Sirsa referred to CAG reports, criticizing the ineffective odd-even scheme, weak PUC protocols, and the lack of compliance with air quality monitoring station regulations.

He accused the previous administration of excessively spending public funds on promotional campaigns for a smog tower and other initiatives that had minimal effect on pollution levels.

In contrast, the Rekha Gupta-led government has moved into “action mode” to combat pollution.

“At all three landfill sites - Okhla, Bhalswa, and Ghazipur - extensive biomining is currently in progress, removing thousands of metric tons of historical waste each month. Approximately 45 acres of land have already been restored, and the MCD has received dedicated financial support for solid waste management,” he added.

To mitigate dust, measures such as comprehensive road resurfacing, anti-smog guns, water sprinklers, mechanical sweepers, and a stringent road-cutting policy have been initiated. Construction sites and industrial zones are under rigorous monitoring, with hefty fines and sealing actions against offenders, he stated.

Concerning vehicle emissions, Sirsa informed the assembly that the ‘No PUC, No Fuel’ policy has been enforced year-round, fake PUC centers have been shut down, and the largest fleet of electric buses in the country is being introduced.

He projected that by 2026, over 7,500 electric buses will be operational, significantly curtailing reliance on personal vehicles.

In a move towards a more sustainable Delhi, the Minister noted that for the first time since 1994, over 10,000 acres have been designated as Reserve Forest. Through the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative, millions of saplings have been planted, and several new urban forests are in the pipeline.

Under institutional reforms, expert panels have been formed, long-standing recruitments in DPCC have been completed, and modern technological solutions have been integrated, he reported.

Sirsa concluded that these initiatives are already yielding positive outcomes, evidenced by improved AQI levels and an increase in days with “satisfactory air quality.”