Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday compared Delhi’s air pollution to a “gas chamber” and said that people in Uttar Pradesh are fortunate to live in a cleaner environment even as development work continues across the state.
Speaking at a public event in Gorakhpur, the Chief Minister said environmental degradation has become one of the biggest global challenges and stressed that development must not come at the cost of nature. He was addressing the inauguration ceremony of the renovated Block Development Officer’s office in Jungle Kauria, according to an official statement.
“The environment here is quite good. There is no pollution. Where pollution is low, diseases are fewer,” Adityanath said. “Pollution directly affects the lungs. If the supply of oxygen is disturbed, the whole body suffers.”
Referring to the situation in the national capital, he said, “Look at the condition in Delhi. It feels like a gas chamber. Breathing becomes difficult, and there is a burning sensation in the eyes. Doctors advise asthma patients, elderly people and children to remain indoors. What kind of life is this?”
He added that Uttar Pradesh has managed to balance growth with environmental protection. “We are fortunate that development is happening here without creating a suffocating environment,” he said, warning that ignoring environmental protection could lead to similar conditions elsewhere.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi’s Air Quality Index was recorded at 211 on Saturday morning, placing it in the “poor” category. As per official classification, an AQI between 201 and 300 is considered poor, indicating air that may cause breathing discomfort to people with lung or heart conditions.
