Delhi’s Air Quality Reaches Emergency Levels, Choking Haze Engulfs the Capital

Delhi's Air Quality Reaches Emergency Levels, Choking Haze Engulfs the Capital

Akif Wani | November 3, 2023 | 06:47 PM IST | Climate & Environment, India | Follow on Google News

Delhi’s Air Quality Reaches Emergency Levels, Choking Haze Engulfs the Capital

Delhi’s Air Quality Reaches Emergency Levels, Choking Haze Engulfs the Capital

The National Capital of India is facing a dire air quality crisis, with a combination of factors pushing it into the ‘severe plus’ category. This alarming situation is a result of a complex interplay between stubble burning, local pollutants, and unfavorable weather conditions that hinder the dispersion of pollutants. In response to this critical situation, emergency measures are being urgently enforced to combat the deteriorating air quality.

Immediate Actions Taken to Mitigate Air Pollution

In the wake of the hazardous air quality, the authorities have taken swift actions to safeguard the health and well-being of the citizens. Primary schools in Delhi have been temporarily closed, construction activities have been restricted, and a ban has been imposed on the use of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel LMVs (four-wheelers) on the city’s roads, with violators facing fines of ₹20,000. Moreover, the Delhi Metro has increased its services by operating 60 extra train trips across its network to encourage the public to opt for public transportation.

Delhi Environment Minister Calls for Unity in Battling Pollution

In an emergency meeting to address the worsening air quality, Delhi’s Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, emphasized the need for collective efforts to combat this crisis. He urged the people of Delhi to rely on public transport for essential activities and called upon his Union counterpart to take a more active role in addressing air pollution. Mr. Rai highlighted that the pollution issue extends beyond the National Capital, affecting the entire north India region.

The air quality situation in Delhi is currently at an alarming AQI level of 471, and unfavorable weather conditions, including low wind speed, non-conducive wind direction, and a lack of rain, are expected to persist for the next two to three days. Despite this severe situation, the Central government’s Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) only initiated Grade III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which is a set of emergency measures to reduce air pollution. Ideally, Grade IV of GRAP, the final stage of the government’s air pollution control plan, should have been activated at least three days prior to the AQI surpassing 450 in the Capital. Unfortunately, there has been no response from the CAQM regarding their inability to forecast the deteriorating air quality. It is crucial to implement appropriate measures promptly to protect the health of the population and the environment from further degradation.

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Akif Wani