Parliament to Take Up Delhi-NCR Pollution Crisis Today, Environment Minister to Respond to Opposition

New Delhi: Amid worsening air quality across Delhi-NCR and several parts of the country, the issue of rising pollution will be taken up for discussion in Parliament today. Following sustained demands from the Opposition in both Houses, the government has agreed to a detailed debate. Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav is scheduled to respond to questions, objections, and suggestions in the Lok Sabha at 5 pm.

The pollution crisis has dominated proceedings since the beginning of the Winter Session, with Members of Parliament repeatedly flagging the severe health risks posed by hazardous air quality. Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has been particularly vocal, urging the government to present a comprehensive and consensus-based action plan to tackle air pollution. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, responding earlier, stated that the government has always been open to discussion and committed to finding solutions.

Government Acknowledges Seriousness of the Issue

During the debate, DMK MP Dr Kanimozhi NVN Somu questioned whether the government was considering allocating funds for installing large-scale air purifiers in severely polluted areas. Responding to the query, Minister Bhupender Yadav acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating, “Air pollution is a major problem. I fully agree.”

He emphasized the need for greater public awareness about Air Quality Index (AQI) readings and said the government is working on both awareness generation and stricter enforcement.

Clean Air Initiatives in 130 Cities

The minister informed the House that under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), air quality improvement initiatives are currently underway in 130 cities across the country. These measures aim to reduce particulate matter levels through targeted action plans involving multiple stakeholders.

New Guidelines to Curb Industrial Emissions

The government also announced that it will soon issue guidelines to reduce harmful industrial emissions and address gaps in enforcement. Stressing the importance of local-level action, the minister said Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) will play a critical role in implementation.

“There is a strong emphasis on empowering and supporting urban local bodies, which are responsible for enforcement at the ground level,” he said while responding to suggestions from members.

Delhi’s Air Remains in ‘Very Poor’ Category

Meanwhile, Delhi continued to remain under a blanket of smog on Wednesday. As of 4 pm, the city’s 24-hour average AQI stood at 334, classified as “Very Poor”, marginally better than Tuesday’s reading of 354. Forecasts suggest that air quality is likely to fluctuate between “Very Poor” and “Severe” over the next six days.

With public health concerns mounting, today’s parliamentary discussion is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the government’s short-term and long-term strategy to combat air pollution, particularly in high-risk regions like Delhi-NCR.