Delhi logs 220 days of clean air, while the NCR records its cleanest October in a decade, says Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa.

Delhi recorded 220 clean-air days in 2026, the highest in the past decade, while the National Capital Region (NCR) witnessed its cleanest October in more than 10 years, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said on Tuesday. Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Sirsa said the region had also recorded its lowest average Air Quality Index (AQI) in a decade, registering a 10 per cent improvement compared with previous years. He credited the Delhi government, led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, and the citys residents for their efforts to tackle air pollution.

The minister also criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, alleging that state officials and police personnel were facilitating stubble burning. He claimed that more than 1,000 incidents of stubble burning had been reported in Punjab and accused the state government of taking contradictory action by allowing the practice while registering cases against farmers.

Sirsa further raised questions over the appointment of Reena Gupta as Chairperson of the Punjab Pollution Control Board. He alleged that the appointment was politically motivated and intended to manipulate pollution-related data. He also claimed that Gupta had links to AAP leadership. Highlighting the Delhi governments pollution-control measures, Sirsa said more than 13,000 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations had been installed across the capital, while the adoption of electric vehicles among residents was increasing.

He urged AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia not to undermine the citys efforts to improve air quality, asserting that Delhi was gradually making progress in tackling pollution. Sirsa maintained that sustained public participation, along with government initiatives, would remain crucial to improving Delhis air quality.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.