Amid worsening air quality in New Delhi, the smog tower remains locked this time due to disgruntled staff. According to ANI, the Rs 23-crore smog tower which was supposed to purify air has its gates locked by the staff angered over non-payment of salary for December 2023. The staff members are also said to be angry as there is no written job guarantee from the Delhi government. 

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the Delhi-NCR region is over 350 in the ‘very poor’ category.

#WATCH | Delhi's "Smog Tower" at Connaught Place is locked up and not operational. It was inaugurated in 2021 at a cost of around Rs 20 Crores. 

The air quality in Delhi is in 'Severe' category today as per CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board). pic.twitter.com/2FZlp9jZ88

— ANI (@ANI)

The smog tower in Connaught Place was inaugurated by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in 2021 but has done little to serve the people. 

Delhi government blames Centre

 Speaking on the closure of the smog tower, Delhi's Health Minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj blamed the Central government for giving too much power to a few officials. 

"Today all powers have been given to a few officials and now they are working as per their wish. First, they closed the smog tower but when the court scolded them, the smog tower was made operational. Now, I don't know under what circumstances it has been closed. Officials are not following the orders of ministers because they know that no action will be taken against them," he told ANI.

He further alleged that the smog towers have been locked 'deliberately' by the Centre. “I think this mismanagement is being deliberately spread by the central government,” the Minister said.