New Delhi

On the ninth day of the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, Congress MP Manickam Tagore called for a Beijing-style clean air plan to tackle Delhi's severe pollution, warning that millions are at risk from the deteriorating air quality.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Tagore said, "Delhi is breathing toxic acidic gas. Children are missing school, workers cannot stand outdoors, and hospitals are overflowing with respiratory and cardiac cases. People are not suffering; they are choking. What is the government's response?"

He further criticised the Delhi government for "no strict enforcement, no clean year plan, no accountability," accusing authorities of resorting to "cosmetic gimmicks' such as spraying water near monitoring stations to manipulate air quality numbers. "Please wake up, sprinkling water around stations won't save children's lives. Managing numbers is not the same as managing pollution," Tagore said.

Highlighting the need for decisive action, Tagore demanded a Beijing-style clean air emergency plan for Delhi.

"Mandatory installation of Flue-Gas Desulphurization (FGD) systems in all thermal plants within 12 months, without any further extensions; the need for 50% electrification of public buses in the National Capital Region within two years, supported by a nationwide expansion of EV charging infrastructure; authorities to conduct real industrial inspections with third-party monitoring and shutdowns for violators; 24/7 desk monitoring and strict penalties for construction-related violations; setting up a Central NCR clean air war room to report daily on actions taken, rather than only publishing AQI numbers; and a national clean air roadmap with measurable targets overseen by an independent compliance authority," he said.

Tagore warned that, year after year, excuses such as wind, stubble burning by farmers, and neighbouring states are cited, while enforcement responsibilities are ignored. He urged the government to act decisively to protect public health and implement concrete measures to reduce pollution levels in Delhi.

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Meanwhile, the air quality in the national capital remained in the 'poor' category on Thursday, with a thin layer of smog covering parts of the city and limiting visibility. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI was 287 at 8 am in the national capital.