New Delhi, November 3, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Tuesday claimed that the national Capital had recorded its best air-quality performance in a decade but alleged that stubble burning in Punjab was contributing to pollution in Delhi.
Addressing a press conference, Sirsa said Delhi had recorded 220 clean-air days so far this year, the highest in the past 10 years. He also described October 2026 as the cleanest October in the decade and claimed that the city’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) had improved by 10 per cent compared with previous years.
Crediting the initiatives of the government led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and public participation, he said the annual average AQI was also lower than in previous years.
Sirsa, however, accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government of failing to prevent farm fires, claiming that more than 1,000 stubble-burning incidents had been reported in the state. He alleged that some Punjab Police personnel and government officials were facilitating the practice, while farmers were also facing cases over stubble burning.
The minister also questioned the appointment of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) chairperson, alleging that a non-Punjabi and non-technical person with political links to AAP had been appointed to the post. He claimed the appointee was a political spokesperson from Delhi and had close family ties to AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal.
Sirsa accused AAP leaders, including Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, of undermining efforts to improve Delhi’s air quality and urged them not to aggravate the situation through activities in Punjab.
He also cited the installation of more than 13,000 electric-vehicle charging stations in Delhi as part of the government’s pollution-control efforts.
Separately, data released by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in response to an RTI application showed 345 stubble-burning cases in Uttar Pradesh between September 15 and October 29, while Haryana reported 29 cases during the period cited.
Sirsa’s allegations against the Punjab government and claims about official involvement in farm fires were not independently established in the statements provided.
FOLLOW NOW
