Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath criticizes Delhi’s air quality, saying it’s nothing short of a “gas chamber.” He made the comparison while praising his own state’s environmental efforts, citing Uttar Pradesh as an example of cleaner living compared to the smog-choked capital. At a public event in Gorakhpur, he said pollution isn’t just a local problem; it’s one of the biggest challenges the world faces right now.

Delhi Compared to a ‘Gas Chamber’

At the reopening of the renovated Block Development Officer’s office in Jungle Kauria, the Chief Minister spoke bluntly about Delhi’s air. “You see the condition in Delhi? It feels like you’re stuck in a gas chamber. The air is so bad that people can barely breathe. Their eyes burn.”

He pointed out that doctors warn people with asthma, older folks, and kids to stay inside when pollution spikes, and he’s not exaggerating. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi’s Air Quality Index reached 210 at 9 am on Sunday, placing it firmly in the ‘poor’ category.

He went on to say that if we let the environment die, it will become like Delhi, where the pollution is so dense that it is almost impossible to breathe. As always, Adityanath pointed out that UP is developing its economy without harming the health of the environment to achieve sustainable growth.

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Interpretation of AQI Levels

According to the CPCB, AQI values ranging from 0-50 are considered “good,” 51-100 are “satisfactory,” 101-200 are “moderate,” 201-300 are “poor,” 301-400 are “very poor,” and 401-500 are “severe.” An AQI value of 210 indicates a likely risk of respiratory discomfort for people with lung disease, asthma, or heart problems.

Adityanath added that such environmental conditions have a severe effect on public health. “Whenever there is pollution, it affects the lungs. If our oxygen is affected, the whole body gets affected,” he said. Speaking about UP, the Chief Minister noted that, compared with Delhi, Uttar Pradesh has developed well while protecting the environment. “The environment in our state is excellent. There is no pollution, and with less pollution, there is less illness,” he said.

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Environmental Degradation as a Global Challenge

Then, turning the page to focus on a global issue, Adityanath referred to environmental sanitation and pollution as one of the greatest issues confronting the planet. He called on the government to make the same commitment to protect the environment with the same intensity as it has made for infrastructure and industry.

Yogi Adityanath criticizes Delhi’s air quality as an example of what can happen when development does not take the environment into account, noting that UP will not be limited, underscoring its commitment to addressing sustainability-related development challenges.

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