Delhi Minister Accuses Punjab Government of Sabotaging Air Quality
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa reported record clean-air days in Delhi while accusing the Punjab government of facilitating stubble burning and manipulating pollution data.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced that the National Capital Region recorded 220 clean-air days in 2026, the highest in a decade, including the cleanest October in over ten years. Sirsa attributed the 10 percent improvement in average AQI to the government under Rekha Gupta and the deployment of 13,000 new electric vehicle charging stations.
Despite these gains, Sirsa accused the Aam Aadmi Party-led government in Punjab of undermining Delhi's efforts. He cited satellite data showing 933 farm fires in Punjab between October 26 and November 1, 2026, and alleged that state officials are facilitating stubble burning. Sirsa further claimed the Punjab government failed to provide utilization certificates for over ₹2,000 crore in federal funds intended for crop residue management.
Sirsa specifically criticized Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for appointing Reena Gupta, a party spokesperson and relative of Arvind Kejriwal, as Chairperson of the Punjab Pollution Control Board. He alleged that Gupta lacks a scientific background and was appointed to fudge pollution data to conceal the actual situation. To combat ongoing threats, Delhi has implemented AI monitoring of construction sites, non-BS-VI vehicle bans, and 50% work-from-home mandates.
