Increased Air Pollution – Delhi registers the worst AQI in the past 102 days

On Wednesday, 5 October, Delhi’s air quality fell to the ‘poor’ category. For the first time in the past 102 days, the AQI (Air Quality Index) was recorded at an overall point of 211 on the scale. 

The experts are of the opinion that the situation might change and the quality would reach the ‘moderate’ mark in the upcoming days. 

A senior official of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee informed Patriot that the AQI might get better in a day or two as there are chances of regular rains from today onwards. “The AQI on Tuesday was 150 in the ‘moderate’ category. However on Wednesday it even crossed the mark of 360, being in the ‘very poor’ category. The last time when the air quality was in this category was on June 25 with an AQI of 230”, he said.

“There was a sudden dip in the AQI on Wednesday. All the required measures are being undertaken by the state government and the centre as well”, he added. He also stated that GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) is being implemented in Delhi. 

“The implementation of GRAP would mean a direct legal action against the pollutants which would include the industrial units as well”, explained the official.

Among the precautions that are to be taken by the authorities, any sort of burning at landfills and dump yards are to be strictly prohibited. 

However, on the eve of Dussehra, the Aam Aadmi Party was seen burning the garbage effigies of Ravana – attacking the BJP lead MCD, at 3600 places in the city. Increased Stubble burning in Punjab is being sighted as another reason for the deteriorated AQI.

“All building and demolition projects with a plot size of 500 square metres or greater that have not been registered on the websites maintained by the governments of Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh for the purpose of tracking dust mitigation measures are to be immediately put at halt. Other steps include making sure that roads are swept and watered, enforcing rules for using anti-smog weapons at construction sites, prohibiting open waste burning, and mandating PUC (pollution under control norms) for cars. The use of firecrackers is likewise prohibited, and DISCOMS are required to minimise power outages”, added another official at Delhi Pollution Control Committee.

Follow us on:

Instagram: instagram.com/thepatriot_in/
Twitter: twitter.com/Patriot_Delhi
Facebook: facebook.com/Thepatriotnewsindia