The air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR) worsened on Friday and continued to be under the ‘poor’ category on Saturday as per the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR)-India. The Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 266 on Saturday evening.
Due to seasonal and atmospheric factors, the wintertime air quality in the nation's capital has gotten worse. In the winter, crop stubble burning in the nearby states of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan also raises the concentration of pollutants.
The production, sale, and use of all firecrackers are currently prohibited by the Delhi government until January 1. Delhi has outlawed fireworks for the past two years. For setting off firecrackers, the Delhi government has also imposed a 200 rupee fine and a six-month jail sentence.
In order to reduce incidents of stubble burning and introduce more anti-smog weapons, the Delhi government has also been spraying bio-decomposers in the fields.
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Dr Ashok Seth, Chairman, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute stated that, "In the last few years the increase in heart diseases among young people is partly due to increased pollution. For the last 20 years, this has been recognised by all authoritative scientific bodies of cardiology," news agency ANI quoted him as saying.
The Delhi government is preparing to launch the "Red Light On Gaadi Off" campaign to combat air pollution. As part of a campaign that will run from October 28 to November 28, public officials and groups will encourage commuters to turn off their cars at traffic lights.