Close schools up to Class V: Sachdeva

The Delhi BJP has accused the AAP-led government of failing to address rising pollution levels and a growing health crisis in the city. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva slammed the government for what he described as a lack of effective measures to control pollution and tackle waterborne diseases.

“Delhi has become a gas chamber. PM 2.5 levels have crossed 400, and PM 10 levels are over 1000 in many areas. Except for Arvind Kejriwal, Atishi, and Gopal Rai, everyone in Delhi is coughing and struggling with eye irritation and breathing issues,” said Sachdeva. He also described a report on the Okhla landfill, which revealed the presence of cancer-causing particles in the air, as “alarming.”

Criticising the government's inaction, Sachdeva stated that despite pollution levels necessitating the implementation of GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) Level 3, there is no visible effort on the ground. “Whether it’s smoke from crop burning in Punjab, dust from broken roads, or construction sites violating restrictions, all these factors have made life in Delhi unbearable,” he added.

Highlighting the impact on vulnerable groups, Sachdeva said, “Small children and the elderly are the biggest victims of pollution. The government should immediately close schools up to Grade 5 and open clinics to treat pollution-related illnesses. Unfortunately, there are no clinics providing medication to counter the effects of pollution.”