NEW DELHI: Delhi’s air pollution has worsened, drawing criticism from opposition leaders on Friday. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal demanded a cut in GST on air and water purifiers, while Congress MP Rahul Gandhi called for a parliamentary debate to address the crisis.Kejriwal urged the Centre to take immediate steps to ease the burden on citizens amid the deteriorating air quality.
He specifically urged the removal of the 18% GST levied on air and water purifiers, saying families were already struggling to protect themselves from toxic air.In a post on X, Kejriwal wrote: “People go to buy air purifiers to protect their families from pollution, and there they find out that the government is levying 18% GST on them. This is blatant injustice. I demand from the central government that the GST imposed on air and water purifiers be immediately removed. If you can’t provide solutions, at least stop burdening the public’s pockets.”The AAP leader also highlighted the hardships faced by citizens due to worsening air quality.“Clean air and clean water are the basic rights of every citizen. In Delhi and North India, the air has become deadly, and instead of providing solutions, the government is collecting taxes from the public,” his post read. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also addressed the worsening pollution, criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his silence on the health crisis. He stressed the need for a parliamentary debate and a strict, enforceable action plan to tackle air pollution.In a post on X, Gandhi wrote: “Every mother I meet tells me the same thing: her child is growing up breathing toxic air. They are exhausted, scared and angry. Modi ji, India’s children are choking in front of us. How can you stay silent? Why does your government show no urgency, no plan, no accountability?”He urged immediate parliamentary intervention to address the crisis. “India needs an immediate, detailed Parliament debate on air pollution and a strict, enforceable action plan to tackle this health emergency. Our children deserve clean air — not excuses and distractions,” the Congress leader wrote. As winter sets in, Delhi continues to grapple with very poor air quality. On Friday morning, the city recorded an AQI of 384, categorised as “very poor” by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Several locations, including Ashok Nagar (417), Bawana (413), Jahangirpuri (420) and Burari Crossing (403), fell into the “severe” category.The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) recently lifted Stage III restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) but directed authorities to intensify measures under Stage I and II to prevent pollution levels from worsening. Construction that was previously halted for violations cannot resume without separate clearance, the CAQM added.GRAP is a framework of emergency measures designed to curb pollution in Delhi-NCR according to Air Quality Index levels, ensuring staged interventions when air quality deteriorates.
