Bursting firecrackers is not a matter of religion it affects people's lives, Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai said on Wednesday and urged the Opposition not to jeopardise the well-being of children and the elderly for political ambitions.
He also appealed to the Centre to issue an advisory to Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to mandatorily stop stubble burning during the Diwali period.
At a press conference, Rai alleged that some people in the Opposition parties are trying to sabotage the Aam Aadmi Party government's fight against pollution by linking firecracker bursting to religion.
"Bursting of firecrackers is not a matter of religion. It is a matter of people's lives. Some people want to fulfil their political ambitions... I appeal to them with folded hands to not play with the lives of Delhi's children and the elderly," he said.
"There are many other issues for politics. Please let people breathe. Diwali means diyas (lamps), not firecrackers," he said.
Rai said Delhi's air quality a day before Diwali was the best in five years.
"Favourable weather conditions and people's support to the government's anti-pollution campaign are reasons for best October air quality in five years," he said.
"I also urge the Centre to issue a mandatory advisory to Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to stop burning stubble at least during the Diwali period so that people can breathe easy after the festival," the minister said.
The national capital recorded an average air quality index of 173 in October this year, the lowest in the month in five years, he said, adding that October saw an average AQI of 265 in 2020; 234 in 2019; 269 in 2018 and 284 in 2017.
He said more than 13,000 kg of illegal firecrackers have been seized and 33 people arrested under the anti-cracker campaign.
As part of the drive to check dust pollution, a penalty of Rs 1.23 lakh has been imposed on 406 construction sites found violating dust control norms.
Rai said Pusa bio-decomposer, a microbial solution that can convert stubble into manure in 15 to 20 days, has been sprayed over 1,700 acres of agricultural land in Delhi.
"The spraying of the bio-decomposer got delayed due to rains in October. The rest of the fields will be covered by November 20," he added.
