The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called on the Delhi government to immediately shut down all schools up to Class 5 due to the alarming levels of air pollution in the city. Virendra Sachdeva, the BJP’s Delhi president, criticized the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for failing to control pollution, claiming that the city has turned into a “gas chamber.”
Delhi’s air quality has deteriorated significantly, with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 366 at 9:00 AM. The PM2.5 levels have crossed 400, and PM10 levels have exceeded 1,000, making the air hazardous for residents. The city experienced its first dense fog of the season, further worsening the pollution crisis.
Sachdeva emphasized that children and the elderly are the most vulnerable to the harmful effects of air pollution. He urged the Delhi government to take immediate action to protect these groups by closing all private and government schools up to Class 5. He also highlighted the lack of adequate government clinics to address health issues arising from poor air quality.
As Delhi continues to grapple with severe pollution every winter, caused by a combination of factors including vehicle emissions, industrial pollution, and smoke from illegal farm fires in neighboring states, the call for urgent measures to safeguard public health grows louder. The BJP’s demand underscores the need for immediate and effective action to protect the city’s residents.