‘Punjab Smoke Doesn’t Reach Delhi': CM Mann Points To Haryana, Rajasthan, UP And Local Sources For Capital’s Pollution

Delhi Pollution: The discussion over Delhi’s worsening air quality escalated on Tuesday after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann dismissed claims that stubble burning in his state is responsible for the national capital’s pollution levels. He argued that local factors and neighbouring states have a larger role in Delhi’s air crisis.

Speaking at a press conference, Mann said wind patterns do not support the claim that smoke from Punjab reaches Delhi. He added that parts of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi itself contribute to the pollution. “The smoke from Punjab doesn't even reach Delhi. For smoke to travel from Punjab to Delhi in 10 days, it requires wind blowing from North to South at 30 kmph, which never happens… The smoke that travels to Delhi stays over Connaught Place! What a joke! ... There are Haryana, Rajasthan and UP neighbouring Delhi, plus Delhi's own pollution,” he said.

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Mann also pointed out that Delhi’s air quality had already deteriorated before paddy harvesting in Punjab began. He said farmers in the state grow rice mainly for markets outside Punjab. “Even before paddy harvesting began in Punjab, Delhi's AQI reached 400… 99 per cent of the paddy harvested in Punjab is sent across the country, rice is not even a staple food for people of Punjab,” he said.

Delhi, meanwhile, woke up to heavy smog on Tuesday, with the city recording an average AQI of 341 at 7 AM, placing it in the “very poor” category. Figures from the Central Pollution Control Board showed Dhaula Kuan at 365, Anand Vihar at 381 and Akshardham at 381. Ghazipur also reported high pollution levels with an AQI of 345.

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Amid the political back-and-forth, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa blamed the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab for rising stubble-burning incidents. He claimed farmers were being pressured to burn crop residue. “Farmers don't want to burn stubble… But they're being forced to burn it… There's a video of an AAP worker saying, ‘We are being forced to burn it’,” he told ANI.

Sirsa also recalled that former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had earlier publicly explained how stubble smoke from Punjab affects Delhi. He accused AAP of changing its stance now that it governs Punjab.

He added that emissions from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh must also be considered when assessing Delhi’s pollution sources.