Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Monday appealed to Lieutenant Governor (LG) V K Saxena to convene a high-level all-party meeting on both air and water pollution.

He argued that the city government is not taking pollution control seriously, making it imperative for the LG to intervene in the interest of public health.

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Sachdeva pointed out that with two major festivals Diwali and Chhath Puja approaching in three weeks, the Delhi government under Chief Minister Atishi “is acting irresponsibly”, necessitating intervention from the LG.

He expressed concern that the city’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) has nearly doubled in just four days, but CM has remained silent, with her environment minister issuing only perfunctory statements.

Sachdeva said the main causes of Delhi’s winter pollution are stubble burning and dust from broken roads. However, despite repeated inquiries, the Delhi government has failed to provide any concrete action plan, he said.

He further emphasised that Delhi residents want to know what plan the Atishi government has formulated with Punjab, a state governed by their own party, to prevent stubble burning.

Sachdeva criticised the Punjab government for not distributing stubble-clearing machinery effectively, despite the central government’s financial support and provision of thousands of machines over the past three years. He accused both former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP leadership of prioritising political theatrics over public health concerns in Delhi and Punjab.

The Delhi BJP President also highlighted the rising pollution levels in the Yamuna River. He noted that when the Yamuna enters Delhi from Haryana at Palla, its fecal coliform level is 12,000, but it increases to 96,000 by the time it leaves the city at Okhla.

He lamented that 27 untreated drains continue to flow into the Yamuna, rendering its water toxic and raising fecal coliform levels eightfold, while the city government remains indifferent.

Sachdeva called on the LG to intervene immediately to oversee preparations for Chhath Puja. He recommended the formation of teams of senior officials based on Assembly constituencies and requested the construction of Chhath Puja Ghats along the Yamuna banks this year.