Delhi air quality worsening everyday; WHO report cites alarming numbers

Considering the rise in pollution in Delhi, the apex court on Monday banned 10-year-old diesel cars and 15-year-old petrol cars in Delhi-NCR.

Delhi air pollution/ File image for representational purpose

New Delhi: The air quality in the national capital has gone bad to worse, with pollution level rising to PM 200 from PM 2.5. The situation is extremely intense in national capital’s 10 areas including Ashok Vihar, Anand Vihar, Jahangirpuri and Mathura Road. The situation is very intense in adjoining Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Noida. SC acts strongly against rising pollution: As per reports, the pollution levels are likely to rise further on Tuesday. The sources say that illegal burning of crops by farmers in Haryana and Punjab are the major reason behind rising air pollution in Delhi. Considering the rise in pollution in Delhi, the apex court on Monday banned 10-year-old diesel cars and 15-year-old petrol cars in Delhi-NCR. It also ordered the CPCB to immediately make social media account on which citizens can complain about pollution. It permitted the court-mandated Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) to take pre-emptive steps under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) without strict adherence to pollution stages delineated in the plan. GRAP is aimed at tackling air pollution in Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas and it is designed to take urgent remedial action when air quality deteriorates.

Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi's Lodhi Road area; prominent pollutants PM 2.5 at 280 and PM 10 at 280 both in 'poor' category. pic.twitter.com/RIeKzsKqV0

— ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2018

Amid rising pollution levels, government plays blame-games: As the choking pollution level, escalates in Delhi; the state government is busy playing blame-game; with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal holding Haryana, Punjab and central government responsible. Taking on his social media, Kejriwal said “The pollution level was fine the entire year in Delhi, but Delhi has to go through this choking pollution because of Punjab’s, Haryana’s and centre’s Congress and BJP governments every year. In spite of our repeated efforts, they are not ready to do anything. Even the farmers of these states are fed up of their governments”. WHO report raises alarms: As per a report released by WHO, around one lakh children lower than 5-years of age died in India in 2016, due to toxic air pollution. It further said that 98% children belonging to poor or developing nations, with age less than 5 years died in 2016 due to poor air quality.