Barbs exchanged over locations of six proposed air quality monitoring units

The six air quality monitoring stations are proposed to be installed at six locations, including JNU, IGNOU, and Central Ridge.
| Photo Credit: File photo

A fresh war of words broke out in the national capital on Saturday with the Opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) hitting out at the Delhi government over the locations where it has proposed to instal six new air quality monitoring stations.

AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government deliberately chose areas with dense vegetation where pollution is lower than the rest of the city to artificially bring down Delhi’s overall air quality index (AQI).

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa accused the Opposition party of “spreading lies”. He added that the locations had been finalised by the previous AAP government.

The air quality monitoring stations are proposed to be installed in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Netaji Subhash University (West Campus), Central Ridge at the ISRO Earth Station, Delhi Cantonment, and the Commonwealth Games Sports Complex.

The AQI is a measurement of air pollution on a scale of 0-500. A higher value suggests an increase in toxicity.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Bharadwaj said the BJP government is trying to “fool people” and “play with their health” by trying to instal the units “in forests and green areas”.

The Minister responded to the allegations through a post on X: “Everything in this world can change, but the leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party will not change. Whether these people are in power or in the Opposition, they will only spread lies.”

Mr. Sirsa added, “[Saurabh Bharadwaj] Sir, you are talking about the installation of the air quality monitoring system at six locations. The decision was taken during your [AAP] government. Now, as the air in Delhi is getting cleaner due to the continuous efforts of the BJP government, you can’t not tolerate it.”

Published – April 27, 2025 12:51 am IST

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