Residents Demand "Solid Steps" As Delhi Air Quality Dips Further

Delhi is enveloped in thick blanket of haze and the air quality continues to dip.

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the 'very poor' category.

At 8:20 am, the region's overall Air Quality Index was recorded at 369. Experts have predicted that for the next three days, the air quality will remain in the 'very poor' category.

An Air Quality Index between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor and 401-500 is severe/hazardous.

At Chandni Chowk, the Air Quality Index was 366 at 8:30 am, while in Delhi University area it dipped to 'very poor' category at 373. Air Quality Index near Mathura road and Dhirpur stood at 391 and 383, respectively.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that the temperatures in Delhi will remain the same as yesterday, with highs and lows reaching 33 Degree Celsius and 17 Degrees Celsius, respectively, with haze and mist in the air.

Speaking to ANI, Vinod, a resident of Delhi, said that air problem is not only causing breathing issues but is also harming the digestive system of locals. He also said that concrete steps should be taken to prevent the air from deteriorating further.

"This is not the first time that this poor atmosphere has prevailed in Delhi. I have been witnessing this from the past 5 years. Something solid should be done now," he added.

According to the SAFAR, 10 per cent of PM2.5 pollution in Delhi on Saturday was caused due to stubble burning.

Delhi authorities have stepped up efforts to combat pollution which includes measures like halt in construction activities and traffic regulations.

There is a halt on all construction activities involving excavation. Civil construction has also been suspended in Delhi and other NCR districts, besides closure of all stone crushers and hot mix plants generating dust pollution.

The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has also directed the Transport Department and the Traffic Police to intensify checking of polluting vehicles and control travel congestion in the region during November 1-10.

Around 43 teams have been formed by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation for night patrolling to check incidents of burning of garbage.

Over 110 vehicles have been deployed for sprinkling water on roads and 12 mechanical dust sweeping machines have also been deployed.

According to a recent Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) analysis, as many as 70 Indian cities across India, including New Delhi, are reeling under air pollution.

From October 22 to October 29, the Central Pollution Control Board said that none of the 70 cities breathed good quality air. Some of the major cities where Air Quality Index was measured were Amaravati, Bengaluru, Chennai, Chikkaballapur, Haldia, Howrah, Hubbali, Kolkata, Panchkula, Rohtak, Lucknow, Kanpur, Thiruvananthapuram, Tirupati, and Vijayawada.

Improving air quality has now become a global agenda. Recently, World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had stated that every human being is entitled to breathe fresh and clean air, adding that all countries must work together to battle the rising pollution crisis.

Speaking at the first WHO Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health in Geneva, Ghebreyesus had said, "Our dream is a world free of air pollution. To get there, we need to set an goal to reduce the number of deaths from air pollution by two-thirds by 2030. We are eager to hear the views of countries and partners on this target and we need to do more work together on the scientific foundation for it."

(With Inputs From ANI, PTI)