'27-year backlog': CM Rekha Gupta blames past govts for Delhi pollution; slams protestors

NEW DELHI: Delhi CM Rekha Gupta on Sunday, reacting to protests over over rising pollution levels, said the government needs at least 27 months to address the crisis.

Speaking at an event in Delhi Pitampura, the chief minister said, “Those who make big statements and protest at India Gate… pollution is not something that appeared today, it has been a problem for years. What did the previous government do? Where were you at that time? This is a backlog of 27 years. The government needs at least 27 months to clear the backlog of 27 years."


Her comments came after a series of demonstrations across the city, including one at India Gate where several people were detained during a “clean air protest.” The protesters demanded urgent action and stronger policies to deal with what they called an “air emergency.” Some women brought their children carrying nebulisers and medical prescriptions, using them as symbolic reminders of the growing health impact of Delhi’s smog.

Police have detained at least 15 people in connection with the protests. A senior officer said the group refused to disperse and allegedly used pepper spray on personnel, triggering a brief scuffle.

Meanwhile, this November has turned out to be one of the most polluted months in recent years for the Delhi–NCR region. All of India’s 10 most polluted cities were located in the area, with Ghaziabad at the top of the list and Delhi ranked fourth. Except for Bahadurgarh in Haryana, none of these cities recorded a single day of clean air, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). The findings also highlighted how pollution in NCR is interconnected, with emissions in one city affecting air quality across the region.

Delhi recorded a monthly average PM2.5 concentration of 215 µg/m³ — double the October average of 107 µg/m³. The capital logged 23 ‘very poor’ air days and six ‘severe’ days, underscoring the intensity of the winter smog cycle.

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