Air Pollution

Breathless In Delhi: Twitterati Reacts To The Air Pollution In Different Ways

As the governments and authorities struggle to curb air pollution in Delhi, here’s how people are reacting on social media to the deteriorating air quality

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New Delhi: Delhi air pollution has become a global topic of discussion. This year, the day after Diwali, Delhi even achieved the status of the world’s most polluted city with an Air Quality Index (AQI) peaking at 999 against the safety limit of 100 as per the World Health Organisation. According to a recent report, indoor air pollution could be more toxic than the outdoor air pollution which just proves that there is no escaping the pollution if you live in the national capital region.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the overall AQI in the national capital on Thursday was recorded at 228, which falls in the ‘poor’ category. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’ and 401 and 500 ‘severe’.

As many as 10,000 people a year die prematurely in Delhi as a result of air pollution. But Delhi citizens seem to be dealing with the pollution problem in various stages of emotions – be it anger, disappointment, shock or simply joking it off! Twitter has all these emotions and more.

Also Read: Delhi Based Start-up Has Developed World’s First Helmet With Air Purifier To Combat Pollution

A major chuck of Delhiites are of course angry. Demanding reasons and questioning the government efforts.

Also Read: Expert Talk: Remember To Consider These Three Things While Buying An Air Pollution Mask

Some are facing health issues and wondering how the pollution problem of the city has escalated into a public health emergency.

Also Read: Air Pollution Crisis: Women Boxers Wear Masks, Scarves To Guard Against Smog At World Championships In Delhi

From city wide air purifiers to water bowl under the vehicles, some have suggested innovative solutions to deal with the issue at hand.

Also Read: ‘Masking Our Emotions’: Farhan Akhtar & Priyanka Chopra Battle Delhi’s Pollution With Masks

Some are hopeful and we should be thankful for them. They’re the ones who keep us going after all.

Also Read: Combating Indoor Air Pollution: 5 Plants To Make Your Home Clean And Green

And then comes the tongue in cheek bunch, who resort to humour when the going gets tough.

This one translates:
Delhi Kid: Mom, I smoked a cigarette today!
Delhi Mom: Just Cigarette right? Sure you didn’t breathe?

Also Read: Delhiites Wake Up To Rain, Pollution Levels Drop Down To ‘Very Poor’

Air pollution is the fourth-largest threat to human health; risks of breathing dirty air include respiratory infections and cardiovascular diseases, stroke, chronic lung disease and lung cancer. According to a WHO study, 9 of the 10 most polluted cities in the world are in India. Some of the factors that are considered to be the sources of air pollution in Delhi include vehicle emission, dust, household and industrial waste burning and agricultural waste burning in the neighbouring states.

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swachh India campaign lends support to the Government of India’s Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM). Helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan, the campaign aims to spread awareness about hygiene and sanitation, the importance of building toilets and making India open defecation free (ODF) by October 2019, a target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when he launched Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in 2014. Over the years, the campaign has widened its scope to cover issues like air pollutionwaste managementplastic banmanual scavenging and menstrual hygiene. The campaign has also focused extensively on marine pollutionclean Ganga Project and rejuvenation of Yamuna, two of India’s major river bodies.

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