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Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Rajya Sabha MP Sulata Deo on Thursday slammed BJP over the deteriorating air quality across the country, particularly in Delhi-NCR, and asserted that their "400 par slogan" is now complete, as the AQI crossed 400 across the national capital and adjoining areas in recent days.
The BJD leader said that the rising pollution levels were severely impacting children, senior citizens, and the general population. Speaking during the Rajya Sabha session, Deo said the worsening air pollution has pushed people into respiratory distress, with lung diseases such as asthma becoming increasingly common. She stressed that while pollution levels were rising nationwide, the situation in Delhi-NCR had reached a crisis point. "Air pollution causes many children, senior citizens and ordinary people to suffer from lung diseases like asthma. If you can see, air pollution is going up every day and the condition is mainly worsening in Delhi-NCR. The 400 par slogan 'Safal Hoya Hai' has reached 400 in Delhi and air pollution in Delhi has reached 400," she said, referring to the soaring Air Quality Index (AQI) readings in the national capital in recent days. Deo also highlighted that crores of people across India, including thousands in Odisha, were affected by prolonged exposure to toxic air. She questioned the development model that requires cutting trees and harming the environment. "For industrialisation, there is no need to cut trees. Do we want development like that?" she asked. Urging the Chairperson, CP Radhakrishnan, to intervene on the issue, the BJD MP said, "I urge the Chairman that the burning of parali should be stopped. We need to think about how to manage industrial pollution and how we can get clean air," she said. Deo emphasised that ensuring clean, breathable air must be treated as a national priority and called for coordinated efforts between the Centre and states to reverse the trend of rising pollution. The Upper House witnessed sharp exchanges between the new Chairperson, CP Radhakrishnan, and opposition leaders, who demanded a debate on the Air Quality Index (AQI). However, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta chaired a meeting at the Delhi Secretariat to review pollution control measures in the national capital on Wednesday. Delhi's air quality improved significantly on Thursday morning, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) standing at 299 at 8 am, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). (ANI)
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