Delhi chokes as Air Quality Index reaches 'severe plus' category again

The air quality in Delhi has deteriorated significantly reaching the severe plus category due to a toxic haze that has persisted for six consecutive days The Air Quality Index AQI soared to 460 at 7 am on a Sunday prompted by unfavorable wind conditions and particularly calm winds during the nightNews agency PTI reported that under the Centres air pollution control plan all emergency measures including a ban on polluting trucks commercial fourwheelers and all types of construction are mandated to be initiated and enforced in the National Capital Region if the AQI crosses the 450markThe concentration of PM25 fine particulate matter capable of penetrating deep into the respiratory system and triggering health problems exceeded the governmentprescribed safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic metre by seven to eight times at multiple locations throughout DelhiNCR It was 80 to 100 times the healthy limit of 5 micrograms per cubic meter set by the WHOAir quality in DelhiNCR declined over the past week due to a gradual drop in temperatures calm winds that trap pollution and a surge in postharvest paddy straw burning across Punjab and HaryanaData from the Central Pollution Control Board shows that Delhis air quality index increased by over 200 points between October 27 and November 3 culminating in a descent into the severe plus category above 450 on FridayFridays 24hour average AQI 468 was the worst since the previous high of 471 recorded on November 12 2021The air quality in neighbouring Ghaziabad 410 Gurugram 441 Noida 436 Greater Noida 467 and Faridabad 461 also reported hazardous air qualityAlso read Mumbai Traffic Police order inquiry into QRgateWhile the capital is grappling with an air crisis a firstofitskind study launched by the city government to help identify different sources of pollution in the city and accordingly take mitigating action was stopped recently on the orders of Delhi Pollution Control Committee Chairman Ashwani KumarKumar also unilaterally ordered a halt to the operation of a large smog tower installed at Connaught Place two years ago to mitigate air pollution in the area according to Delhi Environment Minister Gopal RaiDelhis air quality ranks among the worst in the worlds capital citiesA report by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago EPIC in August said that air pollution is shortening lives by almost 12 years in DelhiThe hazardous pollution levels compelled many to forgo their morning walks sports and other outdoor activities Parents are concerned as health experts say children breathe faster taking in more pollutantsUnfavorable meteorological conditions combined with emissions from vehicles paddy straw burning firecrackers and other local pollution sources contribute to hazardous air quality levels in DelhiNCR during the winter every yearAccording to an analysis conducted by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee DPCC the capital experiences peak pollution from November 1 to November 15 when the number of stubble burning incidents in Punjab and Haryana increasesSmoke from stubble burning accounted for 245 percent of the PM25 pollution in Delhi on Saturday dropping from 35 percent on Friday according to a numerical modelbased system developed by the Punebased Indian Institute of Tropical MeteorologyOfficials at the Commission for Air Quality Management a central government panel that formulates strategies to combat pollution in DelhiNCR expect pollution levels to further decline due to comparatively better meteorological conditions and curbs imposed on certain polluting activities including nonessential construction work starting ThursdayOn Friday the commission deferred the implementation of stricter measures under the air pollution control plan called the Graded Response Action Plan citing a declining trend in the AQI in the regionA day earlier the pollution control body had ordered a ban on nonessential construction work and specific categories of polluting vehicles