Delhi's Toxic Air Hits AQI 377: AAP-BJP Clash as GRAP Stage IV Kicks In with Truck Bans & Fuel Crackdown
Delhi is battling with air of such low quality that emergency measures are gradually becoming necessary. And the city authorities have made it clear that they will not shy from employing methods in order to attenuate pollution. Several parts of the national capital are substantially polluted as per the data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) December 17: Delhi's air pollution has gone beyond dangerous levels that are usually expected, thus provoking a verbal battle anew between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The BJP, which is blaming the AAP for its bad handling, says that the last five years were a waste of policy and that it only now is promising real solutions. Meanwhile, the AAP keeps blaming the BJP for inaction and, at the same time, it puts itself on the throne as the only rescuer of the city.
Slight Relief, But Danger Persists
There was a bit of a bounce back for the air quality in the national capital on Wednesday (December 17, 2025). The AQI registered this morning was 328 as compared to 377 yesterday. The smog may have been spreading all over the city but the atmosphere was not so bad as before.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board’s Sameer app, out of the 40 air quality monitoring stations recorded, as many as 30 were in the “very poor” category. Bawana registered the lowest air quality of 376, with 30 other stations being also categorized as 'very poor' level.
BJP's Fierce Criticism
According to Manjinder Singh Sirsa, the Delhi Environment Minister, it was quite unreasonable to expect a freshly elected government to lower the pollution of the air in just a few months. Besides, he put it upon himself to say sorry to the people for the bad air that was in the city.
While talking about the problem of the capital's worsening AQI, Sirsa mentioned that growth could be seen daily in his government and that the former AAP government was to blame for the chaos that he had to take over.
Crackdown on Polluting Factors
The senior Delhi minister also cautioned that the administration would bring about drastic measures to penalize those trucks carrying construction materials illegally who violate pollution control norms in addition to heavy fines. These vehicles may also be confiscated as part of the anti-encroachment drive, he added.
Besides, he mentioned that from Thursday (December 18), only BS6 compliance vehicles would be allowed to enter the national capital from the outer districts. The Delhi minister further conveyed that those vehicles which do not have a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate will not be permitted to refuel at petrol pumps in the national capital from December 18.
Ban on Coal and Firewood in Kitchens
DPCC has imposed a total ban on the use of coal and firewood for tandoori cooking in hotels, restaurants, and road-side food stalls. The ban on traditional fuel use in commercial kitchens was issued under Section 31(A) of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the order stresses that all food service establishments must immediately transition to electric, LPG, or other clean fuel cooking methods that have been certified.
The directive comes at a time when the city is experiencing a Stage IV situation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), Delhi’s emergency pollution measures' most severe level.
