Delhi’s post-Diwali air pollution crisis has triggered a fresh political confrontation, with opposition parties questioning the credibility of official pollution data and accusing the government of misrepresenting the severity of the situation. The BJP, meanwhile, has defended its position by blaming 25 years of alleged inaction by previous governments for the national capital’s persistent air quality problems.
The pollution crisis has once again brought Delhi’s environmental challenges into focus, as residents struggle with deteriorating air quality following Diwali celebrations. The debate has centred on pollution monitoring, government accountability and the effectiveness of measures introduced to control emissions.
Opposition Questions Missing Pollution Data
The controversy intensified after Congress leader Ajay Maken questioned the absence of PM2.5 readings from 25 of Delhi’s 39 monitoring stations between 2 am and 3 am on November 9.
Citing Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) figures, Maken claimed that the average PM2.5 concentration at the nine stations reporting data during that hour stood at 576 micrograms per cubic metre. This was approximately 38.4 times the World Health Organization’s 24-hour guideline limit of 15 micrograms per cubic metre.
Maken questioned whether the missing readings were coincidental and demanded an explanation from the authorities.
Experts Flag Gaps in Monitoring Network
Questions over the reliability of pollution data gained further attention after reports highlighted missing readings across Delhi’s monitoring network.
According to an analysis published by The Indian Express, 45 of the city’s 59 monitoring stations recorded missing hourly readings for at least one pollutant on Diwali day. Experts warned that some monitoring equipment may have reached its upper measurement limits during the pollution spike, potentially resulting in an underestimation of actual pollution levels.
The analysis also highlighted that only 14 stations reported complete data across all monitored parameters.
BJP Blames Previous Governments for 25 Years of Inaction
The BJP rejected the Opposition’s criticism and shifted the focus towards the previous Congress and AAP governments, which governed Delhi for 15 and 10 years respectively.
BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal accused the Opposition of selectively raising pollution concerns during Hindu festivals. He argued that successive governments had failed to introduce adequate long-term measures to address the capital’s air pollution problem during their combined 25 years in power.
Delhi Minister and BJP leader Kapil Mishra also accused AAP leaders of orchestrating farm fires in Punjab to worsen the pollution situation in the national capital. He called for an investigation into the alleged involvement of political leaders, though the accusations have not been independently established.
Delhi’s Air Quality Remains a Major Concern
Meanwhile, Delhi-NCR continues to face hazardous air conditions following Diwali celebrations. The city’s overall AQI reached 373 at 11:05 pm on November 8, while several monitoring locations recorded readings above 400, placing them in the severe category.
The Commission for Air Quality Management had already implemented Stage III restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) before Diwali as a preventive measure.
With pollution levels remaining dangerously high, the latest controversy has once again highlighted the need for transparent air-quality monitoring, stronger enforcement and coordinated action across Delhi-NCR and neighbouring states.
As political parties continue trading accusations, residents remain the worst affected by the capital’s recurring pollution crisis.
