Keep windows shut, avoid outdoor activities: government advises Delhites as air quality remains 'very poor'

While the government appealed the residents to keep the windows of their houses shut, officials of Municipal Corporation of Delhi along with a team of police sealed polluting factories in the Ranhola area.

Govt-run bodies issue advisories for Delhites as air quality reaches alarming point

New Delhi: The alarming increase in the pollution level of national capital New Delhi has triggered combative actions from the concerned departments.  As the city’s air quality continues to remain 'very poor' for the fourth consecutive day on Saturday, the Central Pollution Control Board and the Centre-run System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research have issued separate advisories for people. While the government appealed the residents to keep the windows of their houses shut, officials of Municipal Corporation of Delhi along with a team of police sealed polluting factories in the Ranhola area. Recommendations of government bodies for Delhites who are battling dangerous pollution levels in the city include: keeping windows shut, wearing masks, avoiding strenuous outdoor activities, minimising use of private vehicles. The task force also recommended closure of all construction activities involving excavation, civil construction, stone crushers, hot mix plants that generate dust pollution during November 1 to 10. The task force also gave recommendations to the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution Control Authority to deal with the deteriorating air quality. In the NCR region, Ghaziabad recorded severe pollution level, while Gurgaon, Faridabad, Noida and Greater Noida all recorded 'very poor' air quality, according to a data by the Central Pollution Control Board data Saturday. The eight areas in Delhi that recorded severe air quality Saturday are Anand Vihar, Dwarka Sector 8, Narela, Punjabi Bagh, Bawana, Mundaka, Vivek Vihar and Rohini. Other measures included shutdown of coal and biomass based industries (excluding thermal and waste-to-energy plants) from November 4 to 10, intensification of efforts by transport department to check polluting vehicles and controlling traffic congestion in Delhi-NCR between November 1 and 10, according to the minutes of the meeting. Pollution would reduce in the next couple of days if the weather condition remains same. The weather conditions include wind direction, temperature etc," he said. (With inputs from PTI)