'Present true AQI': AAP's Saurabh Bhardwaj accuses Delhi govt of manipulating pollution data

Aam Aadmi Party AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bhardwaj on Monday accused the Delhi government of manipulating air quality data alleging that pollution monitoring stations had been shut down new stations installed in less polluted areas and water sprayed near existing monitors to lower readingsHis allegations came a day after Diwali celebrations as thick smog blanketed parts of the national capital on Monday morning and several monitoring stations recorded Air Quality Index AQI levels in the severe categoryAccording to the Central Pollution Control Board CPCB Delhis average AQI stood at 368 at 7 am placing it in the very poor category However several locations recorded readings above 400 indicating severe air pollutionSpeaking to ANI Bhardwaj questioned the credibility of the governments pollution data and demanded that the authorities disclose what he described as the actual pollution levelsBhardwaj alleges monitoring stations were shut downBhardwaj claimed that monitoring stations in polluted areas had been shut down and around 20 new stations installed in distant relatively green parts of Delhi He also alleged that water was being sprayed directly near monitoring equipment in polluted locations to influence the readingsThe governments data is based on fraud We showed how monitoring stations were shut down and how 20 new AQI stations were installed in remote lush green areas of Delhi Water is being sprinkled directly over the monitoring stations in polluted spots to manipulate the readings People simply do not trust the governments AQI numbers I certainly dont he saidThe AAP leader further claimed that AQI levels had crossed 3000 in several areas of the city This figure was his allegation and was not reflected in the official CPCB monitoring figuresWarns of health risks from high pollutionBhardwaj also raised concerns about the health impact of deteriorating air quality particularly on children senior citizens and people with existing respiratory and heart conditionsHe warned that exposure to high concentrations of fine particulate matter including PM25 could have serious health consequencesBy peddling false numbers the government is playing with peoples lives My message to the government is if you are encouraging fireworks then own up to it and take full responsibility You cannot engage in fraud you must reveal the truth he saidTake responsibility and present the true AQI to the public or else vulnerable citizensmdashthe sick the elderly and childrenmdashcould lose their lives he addedSeveral Delhi areas record severe AQICPCB monitoring data showed that several parts of Delhi recorded AQI levels above 400 on Monday morning Burari Crossing reported the highest reading at 441 followed by Vivek Vihar at 437 and Delhi Technological University DTU at 434North Campus of Delhi University and Jahangirpuri both recorded an AQI of 433 while Rohini registered 430 Other locations in the severe category included Mundka at 417 Punjabi Bagh at 409 and NIH Narela and ITO at 407 eachSeveral other monitoring stations reported very poor air quality CRRI Mathura Road recorded an AQI of 396 followed by Aya Nagar at 386 Talkatora Garden at 384 NSUT Jaffarpur at 378 Lodhi Road at 370 and Mandir Marg at 369Wazirpur recorded 365 R K Puram 364 Badarpur 363 IHBAS Dilshad Garden 363 and Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range 361Najafgarh registered an AQI of 340 Anand Vihar 335 IMD Lodhi Road 323 Ashok Vihar 319 and Sri Aurobindo Marg 267 Data for IIT Delhi and Dwarka Sector 8 was unavailable in the reported readingsUnder the CPCBs air quality classification an AQI between 301 and 400 is categorised as very poor while readings between 401 and 500 fall in the severe categoryWith inputs from ANI