Punjab stubble burning is affecting Delhi air quality, says Manjinder Singh Sirsa
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa alleged that the Punjab government has failed to prevent stubble burning incidents in the state.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Tuesday claimed that stubble burning in Punjab is contributing to pollution in the national capital. Speaking at a press conference, Sirsa alleged that more than 1,000 stubble burning incidents occurred in Punjab and accused Punjab Police and government officials of facilitating the practice.
According to The Hawk, Sirsa also criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) regarding the appointment of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) chairperson. He alleged the appointee is a non-technical political spokesperson from Delhi with close family ties to AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal.
The minister highlighted improvements in Delhi's air quality under the government led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. He stated that Delhi has seen 220 days of clean air this year, the highest figure in ten years. He added that the average Air Quality Index (AQI) this year was the lowest in a decade, showing a 10 per cent improvement.
Sirsa further noted that October 2026 was the cleanest October in the last 10 years for the city. He appealed to Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia to avoid actions that could worsen pollution in Delhi.
Data from a Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) RTI response showed 345 stubble burning cases in Uttar Pradesh between September 15 and October 29, and 29 cases in Haryana this year.