New Delhi [India], March 21 (ANI): Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Friday alleged that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), which is run by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), is working toward increasing air pollution in the national capital.

Speaking to ANI, Sirsa asserted that the newly formed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has been continuously making efforts to eradicate pollution from the city.

He alleged that the MCD burns garbage at various places, including parks, adding that the corporation is playing with the lives of Delhi's residents.

'Every day, we get complaints that the MCD, where AAP is in power, burns garbage at various places. They (AAP) are playing with the lives of people in Delhi... I strongly condemn this,' he said.

'Ever since the BJP government was formed in Delhi, we have been continuously fighting against pollution in the city,' the BJP leader added.

Notably, air pollution was a major issue in the Delhi assembly elections held in February.

Meanwhile, Delhi Public Works Department Minister Parvesh Verma inspected roads and drains in the Trilokpuri and Patparganj assembly constituencies on Friday. During the inspection, he found shortcomings regarding the cleaning and maintenance of roads and drains, after which he suspended an Executive Engineer, Ramashish Singh.

He said, 'It is the job of PWD to clean drains, but that is absolutely not being done. So, I have ordered the suspension of the XEN (Executive Engineer) here. All officers have been clearly told that if they do not work properly, action will be taken. We can't leave Delhi, our capital, like this.'

He inspected the roads and drains starting from New Ashok Nagar Metro Station, followed by Chilla Village in Trilokpuri and certain areas of Patparganj assembly. Officials from the Jal Board, PWD, and Municipal Corporation of Delhi were also present at the spot.

The Minister spoke to ANI about the inspection and highlighted the problems that came to the fore and how he sought to resolve them. He said, 'There are several issues. We saw encroachment at several locations. We have directed the removal of encroachments because if everyone encroaches above drains, their cleaning won't be possible, and the water won't pass during the monsoon and will enter the houses.'

Minister Verma further said, 'This situation is across Delhi. All such problems are being identified, and officers are being directed to resolve these issues. Desilting of all drains will be done before the monsoon on a war footing so that water passes through the drains instead of entering houses. Our priority is to finish this before the monsoon.' (ANI)