Delhi CM Rekha Gupta appeals for inexperienced crackers as AQI crosses 300

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta appealed to Delhi residents to rejoice Deepavali responsibly by bursting solely licensed inexperienced crackers because the Capital’s air high quality index (AQI) crossed 300 on Sunday (October 19, 2025), prompting the enforcement of Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). 

The metropolis’s 24-hour common AQI stood at 296 at 4 p.m. and rose to 302 by 7 p.m., in line with the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). “The AQI of Delhi has proven an growing development since morning… recorded as 296 at 4:00 p.m. and 302 at 7:00 p.m.,” the CAQM mentioned, warning of additional deterioration within the coming days. 

The Air Quality Early Warning System underneath the Ministry of Earth Sciences warned that with wind speeds anticipated to remain under 10 kmph on Deepavali, circumstances would stay extremely unfavourable for the dispersion of pollution. “The air high quality could be very more likely to be within the ‘very poor’ class on Monday and should attain the ‘extreme’ class within the following two days if emissions from firecrackers enhance,” the bulletin mentioned. 

Taking to X, Ms. Gupta wrote, “After years, the competition of Deepavali in Delhi will as soon as once more be celebrated in all its colors and lights. We attraction to everybody to make use of solely licensed inexperienced firecrackers throughout this Deepavali and to strictly observe the prescribed pointers.” 

Delhi Congress Chief Devender Yadav, nevertheless, accused the federal government of failing to curb air pollution. “The air in Delhi has change into poisonous on the eve of Deepavali. People are set to face critical well being hazards as banned, polluting crackers – smuggled from BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh and Haryana – are being bought freely throughout the town,” he mentioned. Mr. Yadav added that the Chief Minister had “failed to make sure the supply of inexperienced crackers permitted underneath strict Supreme Court circumstances, and to implement fastened bursting timings”. 

Earlier within the day, Ms. Gupta visited Vasudev Ghat on the banks of the Yamuna to examine preparations for the upcoming Chhath Mahaparv. She mentioned her authorities was decided to make this 12 months’s celebration “grander, safer, and extra organised than ever earlier than”. “Residents will expertise a remodeled Delhi throughout Chhath Puja, a confluence of religion, tradition, and cleanliness,” the CM mentioned. 

Accompanying her, Delhi’s Minister for Development and Tourism, Kapil Mishra, claimed the Yamuna had change into “clearer than earlier than, with no hint of froth or air pollution”. 

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), nevertheless, dismissed these claims as “blatant lies meant to mislead the general public”. AAP Delhi state president Saurabh Bharadwaj mentioned, “Spraying chemical compounds solely lessens the froth, not the contamination. The CM ought to do some studying earlier than making such claims.” 

Mr. Bharadwaj additionally took a dig on the BJP, recalling that the identical chemical now being sprayed to suppress foam was as soon as known as “poison” by BJP MP Parvesh Sahib Singh. “If CM Rekha Gupta insists the Yamuna is clear, she ought to drink a litre of its water and convey her Minister Parvesh Singh alongside too. I’ll settle for that it has really been cleaned,” he mentioned.