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New Delhi: Delhi’s pollution crisis is not a seasonal phenomenon but the cumulative outcome of years of policy failures and administrative negligence, Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood said on Thursday, mounting a sharp attack on the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and outlining measures taken by the present dispensation over the past ten months.
Addressing a press conference at the Delhi Secretariat, Sood alleged that the earlier government relied on publicity campaigns and manipulated data instead of implementing long term solutions. Citing a CAG report, he said that during 2017–18, nearly 30 percent of AQI monitoring stations were deliberately installed in green areas, resulting in misleading air quality readings that understated the severity of pollution.
He dismissed initiatives such as the Odd-Even scheme and the “Red Light On, Vehicle Off” campaign as public relations exercises, stating that even the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and courts had questioned their scientific basis. Sood also referred to Supreme Court observations that highlighted a mismatch between spending on advertisements and the lack of funds for critical public transport projects such as the RRTS.
Detailing actions taken by the current government under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Sood said the focus has shifted to structural reforms rather than short term measures. In waste management, the government has made the use of recycled construction and demolition material mandatory for construction works from 11 October with payments linked to compliance. He said the Bhalswa landfill is targeted for complete remediation by September 2026, and a tender has already been issued for the disposal of 18 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste. Biogas plants have also been commissioned at Nangli Sakrawati and Ghoga dairies for scientific disposal of dairy waste.
To address dust pollution, Sood announced that each Assembly constituency will be provided with a mechanical sweeping machine. To strengthen municipal bodies, the government has released Rs 175 crore, with an additional Rs 500 crore under process.
On transport and clean mobility, Sood said the Rs 45 crore EV subsidy that had been withheld earlier has been cleared, and bottlenecks in major public transport projects, including Metro Phase IV and the RRTS, are being addressed.
Emphasising children’s health, the minister announced that tenders have been issued for installing air purifiers in 10,000 classrooms of government schools in the first phase, with plans to extend the facility to all government schools in the city.
Sood also acknowledged that Delhi’s air quality is affected by activities in neighbouring states but said strong local level interventions can substantially reduce the impact. He reiterated the government’s commitment to achieving a cleaner and healthier Delhi through sustained administrative reforms.
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