Air Pollution Woes Grip Delhi-NCR, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Kolkata Ahead Of Diwali — Details
Although pollution levels in Delhi and its surrounding areas saw a marginal improvement, the concentration of toxic PM2.5 particles still exceeds 80 times the healthy limit. The air quality is also deteriorating in other cities.
The air quality in several areas of Delhi remained 'severe' on Saturday, as the city grappled with a thick toxic haze for the fifth consecutive day. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the maximum temperature in the city was 29.5 degrees Celsius, one degree below the season’s average. Meanwhile, the minimum temperature stood at 16.6 degrees Celsius, slightly above normal. The humidity ranged from 88 per cent to 72 per cent, according to the IMD.
Pollution Levels in Delhi-NCR See Marginal Improvement
The air quality index (AQI) exceeded 450 at various places in the National Capital Region (NCR), with Delhi itself recording an AQI of 433 at 7 pm, as per data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), news agency PTI reported.
The AQI at Anand Vihar reached 488, Shadipur recorded 487, Wazirpur was at 474, Punjabi Bag reported 465, Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range registered 454, Bawana noted 463, Okhla had an AQI of 448, and Rohini was at 459. In Greater Noida, part of the Delhi-NCR, the AQI stood at 498, while Ghaziabad was at 408, Faridabad recorded 441, and Gurugram reported an AQI of 423, according to the CPCB. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', while 401 to 500 is categorised as 'severe.'
The IMD has forecast shallow fog for Sunday, with maximum and minimum temperatures expected to hover around 30 and 17 degrees Celsius, respectively, PTI reported.
Amidst this concerning pollution crisis, residents' welfare associations (RWAs) in Delhi have implemented various measures to mitigate the situation. These measures include issuing advisories with guidelines and prohibiting the burning of trash within their communities.
Although pollution levels in Delhi and its surrounding areas saw a marginal improvement on Saturday due to slightly better wind speeds, the concentration of toxic PM2.5 particles still exceeds 80 times the healthy limit recommended by the World Health Organization. The prolonged exposure to this toxic air is causing health concerns, particularly respiratory and eye problems, especially among children and the elderly.
Haryana and Punjab Struggle with Poor Air Quality
In Haryana, several areas reported 'severe' and 'very poor' air quality indices, while in neighbouring Punjab, some areas experienced 'poor' air quality. Farmers in Punjab continued to burn crop residue, contributing to the pollution crisis, PTI reported.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board, several cities in Haryana, including Fatehabad, Faridabad, Jind, Kaithal, Hisar, Sonipat, Sirsa, Gurugram, Bahadurgarh, Kurukshetra, Rohtak, and Bhiwani, recorded air quality indices ranging from 307 to 464, all in various categories of poor air quality.
In Punjab, cities like Bathinda, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Mandi Gobindgarh, Amritsar, Khanna, and Patiala reported air quality indices ranging from 247 to 385, still in the poor category.
Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, registered an air quality index of 179.
The increase in farm fires contributed to the crisis, with 1,360 new incidents reported, bringing the total number of stubble-burning incidents to 14,173. While this represents a 47% decrease from the previous year, it remains a significant contributor to air pollution, PTI reported.
Mumbai Initiates Road Cleaning to Combat Air Pollution
In Mumbai, the civic body has initiated road cleaning measures to combat rising air pollution concerns. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has commenced the regular washing of over 650 km of roads wider than 60 feet and their footpaths, which constitute more than 30% of the city's road network, as per PTI.
To achieve this, the BMC will deploy 121 tankers for the purpose. The roads and footpaths will be swept before being sprayed with water to mitigate dust and pollutants, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said in a release on Friday.
Experts In Kolkata Warn Of Worsening Pollution Levels Ahead Of Diwali
Environmental experts in Kolkata are warning of worsening pollution levels, both in air and sound, during the period from November 11 onward as the firecracker season begins with Kali Puja and Diwali celebrations, news agency IANS reported. This festive season typically extends for a few days in Kolkata, prolonging the pollution concerns.
Experts and technologists are advocating for strict enforcement of guidelines to keep air pollution within reasonable limits. This includes allowing only green crackers to be burnt during the festival days and adhering to the Supreme Court of India's stipulated two-hour window for bursting firecrackers, specifically green ones, IANS reported.
“The first is that both WBPCB and the city police will have to ensure that only green crackers are burnt during the festival days. Secondly, these two enforcement agencies will have to ensure that the Supreme Court of India’s stipulated two-hour window for bursting firecrackers, and that too only green crackers, are adhered strictly,” S.M. Ghosh told IANS.
He acknowledged the challenges in enforcing these guidelines strictly and ensuring compliance, based on experiences from previous years. Local authorities will need to take a proactive role in managing the pollution risks associated with the festive season.
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