Delhi atmosphere minister shares plan for cloud seeding, reveals when, tips on how to begin course of, ‘When there shall be…’

Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa accused AAP of inflicting air pollution in Delhi by letting farmers burn stubble

Because the nationwide capital grapples with ‘very poor’ air high quality, Delhi Surroundings Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Tuesday reaffirmed the BJP authorities’s plan for synthetic rain by way of cloud seeding. Nonetheless, the minister didn’t instantly announce a plan for cloud seeding, saying that it’s only doable “when there are clouds. For many who are asking us, why are we not getting cloud seeding finished. I wish to inform them that in cloud seeding, the cloud comes first after which comes seeding. Seeding can solely be finished when there are clouds. The day there shall be clouds, we’ll get seeding finished and there shall be rain as nicely,” Sirsa stated throughout a press convention.

Delhi woke as much as a thick smog on Tuesday morning, because the air high quality deteriorated to the ‘Very Poor’ class. In line with the Central Air pollution Management Board (CPCB), Delhi’s general Air High quality Index (AQI) stood at 351 as of 4 pm at the moment.

Nonetheless, Sirsa identified that the AQI rose to solely 11 factors put up Diwali celebrations. He additionally in contrast the rise in air air pollution to that of earlier years when there was an entire ban on firecrackers.

“In 2020, the firecrackers in Diwali have been happening. At the moment, PM 2.5 was 414 earlier than Diwali and 435 after Diwali. There was a rise of 21 factors within the firecrackers. In 2021, there was a rise of 80 factors. In 2024, when the firecrackers have been banned, the AQI was 328 earlier than Diwali and 360 after Diwali. 32 factors elevated when the firecrackers have been banned. On the order of the Supreme Court docket and on the request of the Delhi authorities, we bought permission for inexperienced firecrackers… Earlier than Diwali, the AQI was 345, and after Diwali, the AQI was 356, based on the CPCB’s Sameer App… Solely 11 factors elevated when the firecrackers have been allowed,” he stated.

“Will you maintain Diwali answerable for this? Will you maintain the religion of all of the Sanatanas and Hindus in Delhi accountable? What’s the fault on this?” Sirsa stated. The Delhi Minister additional criticised AAP for “blaming” Diwali for the rise in air pollution, accusing them of disrespecting the competition and accusing the BJP.

“Sanjay Singh and his colleagues have been tweeting since final evening, asking to cease celebrating Diwali. Aam Aadmi Get together president is cursing the BJP. Diwali is not the BJP’s competition. The BJP president and the BJP Chief Minister are being cursed. This is not the BJP’s competition. It is a Sanatan Hindu competition, and why are you cursing the competition? Why are you utilizing phrases towards the competition? However to say that BJP is celebrating Diwali, to say that BJP is bursting crackers like this, to say that BJP is doing such improper issues, I really feel very embarrassed,” he stated.

The Supreme Court docket had relaxed its earlier blanket prohibition on fireworks within the nationwide capital and permitted the sale and use of inexperienced fireworks with some situations.

The Fee for Air High quality Administration (CAQM) had imposed Stage 2 of the Graded Response Motion Plan (GRAP) within the Nationwide Capital Area with quick impact on Sunday.