Delhi's Pollution Data Under Scanner: AAP Raises Water Sprinkling, Data Blackout Concerns

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has raised serious concerns over alleged irregularities in Delhi's air quality monitoring system, accusing authorities of compromising pollution readings through water sprinkling near monitoring stations and lapses in data recording.

A delegation led by AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj met officials of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Wednesday and flagged several issues, including alleged water sprinkling near monitoring stations, data blackouts and the placement of some monitoring stations in green areas.

Bharadwaj said the CAQM had termed the practice of sprinkling water near monitoring stations as "wrong" and assured the delegation that the matter would be taken up with senior Delhi government officials.

The party also raised concerns over monitoring equipment failing to provide continuous and accurate readings. According to Bharadwaj, the commission assured that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) would replace certain equipment to prevent data blackouts and improve the reliability of Air Quality Index (AQI) measurements.

Another major concern involved pollution readings on Diwali night, when several areas of the capital reportedly experienced extremely poor air quality. Bharadwaj claimed that the CPCB acknowledged limitations in displaying readings exceeding 999, adding that the equipment would be upgraded to address the problem.

The AAP delegation also sought an update on a complaint submitted on November 4. However, the CAQM did not provide a specific deadline for implementing the proposed measures. The party said it expected a response within a week.

AAP MLA Kuldeep Kumar, who was part of the delegation, criticised the handling of air pollution in the capital and expressed concern over the health consequences of deteriorating air quality, particularly for people suffering from respiratory illnesses.