CM appeals for green crackers as AQI in Delhi crosses 300

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta appealed to Delhi residents to observe Deepavali responsibly by bursting lone certified greenish crackers arsenic the Capital’s aerial prime scale (AQI) crossed 300 connected Sunday (October 19, 2025), prompting the enforcement of Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). 

The city’s 24-hour mean AQI stood astatine 296 astatine 4 p.m. and roseate to 302 by 7 p.m., according to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). “The AQI of Delhi has shown an expanding inclination since morning… recorded arsenic 296 astatine 4:00 p.m. and 302 astatine 7:00 p.m.,” the CAQM said, informing of further deterioration successful the coming days. 

The Air Quality Early Warning System nether the Ministry of Earth Sciences warned that with upwind speeds expected to enactment beneath 10 kmph connected Deepavali, conditions would stay highly unfavourable for the dispersion of pollutants. “The aerial prime is precise apt to beryllium successful the ‘very poor’ class connected Monday and whitethorn scope the ‘severe’ class successful the pursuing 2 days if emissions from firecrackers increase,” the bulletin said. 

Taking to X, Ms. Gupta wrote, “After years, the festival of Deepavali successful Delhi volition erstwhile again beryllium celebrated successful each its colours and lights. We entreaty to everyone to usage lone certified greenish firecrackers during this Deepavali and to strictly travel the prescribed guidelines.” 

Delhi Congress Chief Devender Yadav, however, accused the authorities of failing to curb pollution. “The aerial successful Delhi has go toxic connected the eve of Deepavali. People are acceptable to look superior wellness hazards arsenic banned, polluting crackers – smuggled from BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh and Haryana – are being sold freely crossed the city,” helium said. Mr. Yadav added that the Chief Minister had “failed to guarantee the availability of greenish crackers permitted nether strict Supreme Court conditions, and to enforce fixed bursting timings”. 

Earlier successful the day, Ms. Gupta visited Vasudev Ghat connected the banks of the Yamuna to inspect preparations for the upcoming Chhath Mahaparv. She said her authorities was determined to marque this year’s solemnisation “grander, safer, and much organised than ever before”. “Residents volition acquisition a transformed Delhi during Chhath Puja, a confluence of faith, culture, and cleanliness,” the CM said. 

Accompanying her, Delhi’s Minister for Development and Tourism, Kapil Mishra, claimed the Yamuna had go “clearer than before, with nary hint of foam oregon pollution”. 

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), however, dismissed these claims arsenic “blatant lies meant to mislead the public”. AAP Delhi authorities president Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “Spraying chemicals lone lessens the froth, not the contamination. The CM should bash immoderate speechmaking earlier making specified claims.” 

Mr. Bharadwaj besides took a excavation astatine the BJP, recalling that the aforesaid chemic present being sprayed to suppress foam was erstwhile called “poison” by BJP MP Parvesh Sahib Singh. “If CM Rekha Gupta insists the Yamuna is clean, she should portion a litre of its h2o and bring her Minister Parvesh Singh along too. I volition judge that it has genuinely been cleaned,” helium said.