Delhi CM Rekha Gupta Demands Coordinated Action on Air Pollution Crisis at Northern Zonal Council Meeting

At Monday's Northern Zonal Council meeting in Faridabad, Delhi's Chief Minister Rekha Gupta emphasized the critical need for collaborative efforts to combat the capital's deteriorating air quality crisis.

The high-level gathering, presided over by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saw Gupta assert that Delhi's escalating pollution emergency requires immediate coordinated intervention from surrounding states.

Gupta advocated for comprehensive measures including enhanced restrictions on stubble burning, more rigorous industrial emission controls, advanced dust management systems, and implementation of zero-emission vehicles for interstate transportation.

Her urgent appeal coincided with Delhi's air quality index reaching 351 by 4 pm according to Central Pollution Control Board measurements, categorizing the city's air as "very poor" and exacerbating health concerns among residents.

This governmental initiative follows recent Supreme Court criticism directed at Punjab and Haryana for their inadequate efforts to prevent agricultural burning, with the court questioning pollution data accuracy and highlighting insufficient environmental law enforcement.

The judiciary has requested detailed action plans, expressing growing concern as air quality indicators continue to worsen throughout Delhi and the National Capital Region.

Statistical evidence underscores the severity of the situation, with Delhi experiencing 27 days of hazardous air quality during October, including multiple "severe" pollution episodes. Expert analysis indicates that smoke from crop residue burning contributes over 22 percent of Delhi's dangerous PM2.5 particulates during peak periods, while vehicular emissions, construction activities, and industrial operations maintain consistently high pollution levels.

Environmental scientists continue recommending diversified approaches, including technologies such as the "happy seeder" to minimize agricultural waste burning.

Meanwhile, Delhi citizens are showing increasing dissatisfaction through protests across the city, demanding substantive action rather than repeated unfulfilled commitments from authorities.