Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann blames Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan & UP for smog; says wind patterns prevent Punjab stubble smoke from reaching Delhi.

New Delhi: Bhagwant Mann, the chief minister of Punjab, started a discussion on Delhi’s air pollution, blaming it on the local and surrounding states.

Citing wind patterns, he asserted that smoke from Punjab does not reach Delhi and blamed the pollution in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.

At a press conference, the Chief Minister criticized the BJP government for increasing pollution in Delhi and responded to claims that the national capital’s declining air quality is caused by smoke from Punjab, claiming that the smoke does not even reach Delhi.

Mann emphasized that Delhi’s AQI reached 400 before harvesting started, proving that Punjab’s paddy harvesting is not the cause. He continues by saying that residents do not eat rice as a staple and that 99 percent of Punjab’s rice is exported.

“Delhi is not even reached by the smoke from Punjab. Wind must blow from the north to the south at 30 kmph in order for smoke to move from Punjab to Delhi in ten days, yet this never occurs. Over Connaught Place, the smoke that makes its way to Delhi remains! What a farce! I see. In addition to Delhi’s own pollution, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh are its neighbors. Delhi’s AQI hit 400 even before Punjab’s crop harvesting season started. “Rice is not even a staple food for people in Punjab; 99% of the paddy harvested in Punjab is sent across the country,” Mann stated.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reports that the national capital woke up to a dense blanket of deadly smog on Tuesday morning, with an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 341 at 7 AM, putting it in the “very poor” category. According to CPCB data, the Air Quality Index has not improved much from Monday morning, when it was recorded at 351 at 7 am in the “very poor” category.

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Dhaula Kuan received an AQI of 365, placing it in the “very poor” category, while Anand Vihar received an AQI of 381 and was also placed in the same category, according to the CPCB.

Additionally, the Ghazipur region experienced haze, with an AQI of 345, which puts it in the “very poor” category. According to the CPCB, Akshardham also stayed in the “very poor” category because the region’s AQI hit 381.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is classified by the CPCB as “good,” 51 to 100 as “satisfactory,” 101 to 200 as “moderate,” 201 to 300 as “poor,” 301 to 400 as “very poor,” and 401 to 500 as “severe.”

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government is allegedly “forcing” farmers to burn crop residue despite central incentives, according to Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who earlier escalated the political blame game over the capital’s deteriorating air quality. An increase in incidents is expected to spike pollution after Diwali.

“The Aam Aadmi Party is in control of Punjab. Burning stubble is not what farmers desire. To avoid burning it, they are now even compensated for it. However, they are compelled to burn it. The newspaper of today has it printed. The majority of the occurrences occurred yesterday. People were forced to do it while wearing masks. An AAP employee is heard on camera stating, “We are being forced to burn it.” Who is pressuring them? Not us. In an interview , Sirsa stated that the BJP cannot compel anyone in Punjab.

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Noting that former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had earlier described the effects of stubble smoke from Punjab on Delhi, Sirsa drew attention to what he called a perceived “role reversal” by the AAP and accused the opposition of hypocrisy in avoiding responsibility for their governance shortcomings. In the past, Kejriwal himself would describe how Delhi’s pollution is caused by Punjabi stubble. He used to even display charts that explained how the smoke flows, how fast it goes, and how long it takes to get to Delhi. Now, when they hold authority, the same individuals remain mute,” he remarked.

The Minister explained that Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are among the other states that contribute to pollution, in addition to Punjab.