Post Diwali AQI rose merely by six points, claims Environment Minister Sirsa

Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Tuesday claimed that Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) rose by only six points after Diwali, crediting residents for celebrating the festival responsibly.

Addressing a press conference, Sirsa said the post-Diwali AQI had remained better than previous years. “In 2020, the AQI was 462; in 2024 it was 360, and this year it stands at only 351,” he noted.

Sirsa said, “Arvind Kejriwal and his team are trying to politicise a sacred festival. Diwali is not the property of any political party; it is the festival of India’s soul.”

He added, “This is the same party that banned crackers to please one section of voters, and now calls those who celebrate Diwali ‘wrongdoers’. These are the same people who once opposed Lord Shri Ram inside the Assembly.”

Highlighting the Delhi government’s achievements, the Minister mentioned that they had removed 27 lakh metric tonnes of waste out of a 28-lakh-tonne target, a real time monitoring is being done of all construction sites above 500 square meters, thousands of electric and CNG buses introduced, significantly reducing emissions, over 6,000 industries granted Consent to operate, establish under “Zero Pollution” compliance standards and the PUC certification process has been fully digitized for transparency and accountability.

He added that despite Delhi witnessing 21 percent growth in construction and 8 percent increase in new vehicle registrations, pollution levels have remained stable.

Cloud seeding trials to take place once cloud forms

On the issue of cloud seeding, Manjider Singh Sirsa said that the project will begun shortly once the cloud forms.

“Cloud seeding happens only when there are clouds. First comes the ‘cloud’, then the ‘seeding’. Without clouds, cloud seeding is scientifically impossible. People should understand science before making political statements,” he added. This came after AAP has leveled allegations of delay in the project.

“Under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s leadership, Delhi is in safe hands. From Yamuna cleaning to real-time air monitoring on high-rise buildings, every initiative is aimed at reducing pollution. Those spreading misinformation must understand, Delhi is changing, and the results are visible,” Sirsa added.