AAP Legislators Question Delhi Govt Over Air Quality Crisis and Rescue Lapses
New Delhi, November 9 – Delhi’s air quality has hit alarming levels in the wake of Diwali celebrations, while a building collapse in the city’s Chawri Bazar area left seven people dead. The controversies surrounding the Punjab PCS exam results have added to the political heat. AAP representatives Sanjeev Jha and Kuldeep Kumar used the occasion to launch a scathing critique of the government’s performance.
Sanjeev Jha refuted claims that Punjab’s stubble burning is the primary driver of Delhi’s smog. He cited official data showing a drop from 72,000 fire‑burn FIRs in 2022 to roughly 1,500‑2,000 this year, a ninety‑percent decline. Jha accused Kapil Mishra of serving the interests of fire‑cracker producers and warned that the political discourse is being used to shield the real culprits.
He called for immediate action to clear the city’s littered streets and fix broken roads, stressing that those suffering from asthma, chronic bronchitis, and other respiratory illnesses are finding it difficult to breathe.
Kuldeep Kumar turned his focus to the Chawri Bazar incident, holding the administration accountable for what he described as a preventable tragedy. He detailed the recovery timeline: two bodies were found on November 5, while five more required three days of painstaking effort, with the final victim being retrieved on November 8. Kumar questioned statements from the Deputy Commissioner of Police claiming that no bodies remained, suggesting such remarks could have hampered ongoing rescue operations.
He pressed the government for prompt compensation to the victims’ families before the upcoming Chhath Puja and asked what support has already been extended. Kumar also castigated Kapil Mishra and the Delhi government for allowing construction activity to continue in violation of GRAP‑3 regulations, implying that alleged corruption and commission‑driven incentives are compromising public safety.
Both lawmakers demanded independent investigations, adequate relief for the bereaved, and a firm commitment to addressing Delhi’s rising pollution levels.
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