NEW DELHI: Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit, contesting from the New Delhi constituency in the February 5 Assembly polls, has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of failing to address air and water pollution in Delhi during its decade-long rule.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, Dikshit claimed the AAP government had neglected public transport, leading to a rise in private vehicle use and, consequently, increased pollution levels. “In 2013, there were 5,500 DTC buses, but now the number has dropped to 3,000. The daily ridership, which should have risen to 60-65 lakh, has reduced to 41 lakh. The surplus commuters opting for private transport add to pollution,” he said.
Dikshit criticized the AAP for blaming stubble burning in neighboring states for Delhi’s air quality issues. “Stubble burning has been around for decades. The main contributors to Delhi’s pollution are an increase in vehicles, a weak public transport system, and loss of green cover,” he said, pointing to the Congress-led Sheila Dikshit government’s efforts from 1998-2013 to expand the Delhi Metro, increase green cover, and convert vehicles to CNG.
He also took a swipe at the AAP’s unfulfilled promises regarding the Yamuna. “Kejriwal claimed he would clean the river so well that he’d take a dip in it by 2025, yet it remains the most polluted stretch globally, with untreated waste flowing in,” Dikshit said.
Refuting Kejriwal’s assertion of increasing sewage treatment capacity by 50%, Dikshit said, “In 1998-99, the capacity was 360 MGD. By 2013, Congress increased it to 613 MGD. In 2023, it was just 632 MGD.”
The Congress leader urged voters to recognize the AAP government’s “incompetence and dishonesty,” arguing that only Congress could address Delhi’s toxic air and water. “It’s the responsibility of the Delhi government to clean the air and water without excuses. Kejriwal has only excuses to offer,” Dikshit said.
