Wed Dec 17 15:10:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and news article based on the provided text:
Summary:
Delhi’s Environment Minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, has accused former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of contributing to the city’s pollution problem. He claims AAP members are deliberately burning waste and then criticizing the government. Sirsa highlighted a video allegedly showing an AAP councilor burning waste at a landfill. He outlined the government’s multi-pronged approach to combat pollution, including measures targeting vehicular emissions, road dust, solid waste, and industrial pollution. Key initiatives include denying fuel to vehicles without valid PUC certificates, implementing an integrated traffic management system, launching a carpooling app, introducing electric buses, deploying mechanical sweepers, and monitoring industrial emissions.
News Article:
Delhi Minister Accuses AAP of Sabotaging Anti-Pollution Efforts, Announces New Measures
New Delhi, [Date – insert today’s date] – Delhi’s escalating pollution crisis has taken a political turn, with Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa directly accusing former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of exacerbating the problem. In a press conference Wednesday, Sirsa alleged that AAP members are deliberately setting fire to waste to undermine the government’s pollution control efforts.
“While the government is taking continuous steps to reduce pollution, the illness is being given by Kejriwal,” Sirsa stated. He cited a video purportedly showing AAP councilor Vijay Kumar burning waste at a landfill site, as shared by Trilokpuri MLA Ravi Kant.
Sirsa defended the government’s strategy, outlining a comprehensive plan addressing vehicular pollution, road dust, solid waste management, and industrial emissions.
Effective Thursday, vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate will be denied fuel at petrol pumps. “We urge all citizens to update their PUC certificates promptly,” Sirsa emphasized.
The government is also implementing an integrated traffic management system to reduce congestion by enabling signals to communicate with each other. In collaboration with Google Maps, pollution and traffic hotspots will be identified. A new carpooling app is in development to further reduce vehicular emissions, and 100 new electric buses will soon be deployed, with a goal of a 7,500-strong electric bus fleet.
Addressing issues related to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Sirsa announced the approval of ₹2,700 crore for the deployment of mechanical sweeper machines in every ward. Additionally, a new DPCC portal, ‘DPCC 2.0’, will be launched, featuring e-challan facilities.
Focusing on industrial pollution, inspections of factories operating in unverified areas have commenced. The government is also collaborating with IIT Madras on smog reduction technologies.
“The government is committed to taking concrete action at every level to clean Delhi’s air,” Sirsa concluded.
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