AAP Alleges GRAP-IV Violations at Kondli STP, BJP Rejects Claims as Political and Misleading

A fresh political row has erupted in the capital over air pollution controls, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accusing the BJP-led Delhi government of failing to strictly enforce GRAP-IV measures, the toughest stage of the Centre’s anti-pollution action plan.

AAP leaders alleged that a brick-manufacturing operation was functioning inside the Delhi government-run Kondli Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), emitting thick smoke despite restrictions on polluting activities during severe air quality conditions.

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AAP Flags Alleged Violations

AAP’s Delhi state president Saurabh Bharadwaj shared a video on social media platform X on Sunday, claiming it showed heavy smoke rising from within the Kondli STP premises. According to Bharadwaj, the visuals contradicted the government’s assertions of strict implementation of GRAP-IV norms across the city.

The video was reportedly recorded during an on-ground inspection by Kondli MLA Kuldeep Kumar. He alleged that a sludge management unit operated by SSP Private Limited was functioning within the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) complex and was manufacturing bricks using sewage sludge waste.

“Even though GRAP-IV is in force across Delhi, thick smoke was clearly visible from the plant,” Kumar claimed, adding that he reprimanded staff present at the site and ordered the unit to shut down immediately.

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Impact on Local Residents

AAP leaders further alleged that emissions from DJB facilities in Kondli and Mayur Vihar Phase-3 were affecting surrounding residential areas, including Mayur Vihar Phase-3, Kondli, Kalyanpuri, Khichripur, and Vasundhara Enclave.

Residents in these localities were “struggling to breathe” due to the smoke, Kumar claimed, calling the situation a serious public health concern during a period of already hazardous air quality.

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Demand for Regulatory Action

AAP demanded immediate intervention by environmental regulators, including the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). The party called for show-cause notices, heavy penalties, and blacklisting of the company involved if violations of GRAP-IV norms were established.

The allegations come at a time when Delhi is grappling with recurring winter smog and heightened scrutiny over enforcement of pollution-control measures.

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BJP’s Rebuttal: ‘Essential Facility, Not a Violation’

The Delhi BJP strongly rejected AAP’s claims, describing them as misleading and politically motivated. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said the facility in question was a modern and essential sludge treatment unit that is legally permitted to operate even during periods of severe pollution.

Sachdeva pointed out that Saurabh Bharadwaj himself had inaugurated the Kondli STP in 2023 while serving as a minister in the previous AAP government. He said the plant had been officially categorised as an essential facility and allowed to function during peak winter pollution seasons in both 2023 and 2024.

“Modern sewage treatment and sludge processing units emit only steam, which can appear like smoke but is not harmful emissions,” Sachdeva said, adding that such facilities are exempt under GRAP-IV guidelines.

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Political Crossfire Amid Pollution Crisis

Accusing AAP leaders, including Kuldeep Kumar, of distorting facts to target the BJP-led administration, Sachdeva said the issue was being politicised at a time when coordinated action was needed to address Delhi’s air quality crisis.

With both sides standing firm, the controversy is likely to intensify scrutiny of pollution-control enforcement and the classification of industrial and waste-treatment facilities under GRAP-IV, as regulators weigh whether further investigation is warranted.