Delhi Minister Gopal Rai on Friday called upon Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav to become more active in addressing the deteriorating air quality in the national capital region. He also mentioned that the entire north India is breathing polluted air. 

This comes after the air quality in the national capital deteriorated to the ‘severe plus’ category on Friday morning. The AQI rose from 351 at 10 am on Thursday to 475 at 12 noon on Friday, as reported by news agency PTI. 

The Delhi Environment minister emphasised that the BJP is blaming Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for the poor air quality in Delhi, but he is not responsible for the poor air quality in adjoining Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. He also said that the situation remains the same across north India. 

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Rai appealed to the Union Environment Minister to become proactive in addressing the issue, saying, "It doesn't seem like there's a Union Environment Ministry in Delhi." He also cited research from the independent think tank Centre for Science and Environment to claim that neighbouring states are responsible for 69 per cent of Delhi's air pollution.

"While we (Delhi) are taking all possible steps to address the problem, no one knows what the environment ministers of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana are doing,” Rai was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. 

He also issued a warning that the upcoming 15 days will be crucial for the entire Delhi-NCR and that all state governments should work together to curb the menace. 

Amid deteriorating air quality, the Delhi government has also issued directions to ensure strict implementation of directives issued by the Centre's Commission for Air Quality Management to reduce air pollution.

Earlier on Thursday, the pollution control panel ordered a ban on mining, stone crushing, and non-essential construction work, as the capital's air quality plummeted to the ‘severe’ category.