New Delhi: The overall air quality in the national capital on Thursday morning was recorded in the ‘poor’ category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 256, as per SAFAR-India. To mitigate pollution, water was sprinkled through an anti-smog gun in the Anand Vihar area, as according to the data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the air quality in Delhi stands in the ‘poor’ category. As per the latest data from SAFAR, the air quality around Delhi University was recorded at 316 (very poor) in the morning hours today. Noida recorded an AQI of 269 (poor) and Gurugram 176 (moderate).
Meanwhile, to reduce pollution in the national capital, an anti-pollution drive is also going to start today. A resident of the city, Bhagwati Prasad, while speaking to ANI, said that the situation is very bad and there seems to be no solution as it happens every year. She said,
The pollution situation is very bad. There has been coughing and burning in the throat for the last few days. There seems to be no solution, as it happens every year. There is a lot of traffic.
Earlier, on Wednesday, the overall air quality in Delhi was recorded in the ‘moderate’ category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 190, as per SAFAR-India. With this marginal improvement in the overall air quality on Wednesday, Environment Minister Gopal Rai urged the states in the National Capital Area to ban firecrackers ahead of the upcoming Diwali, keeping in view the measures put in place in the city to tackle pollution.
The minister said that during Dussehra, which was celebrated on Tuesday, there was less bursting of firecrackers and if the same continues for Diwali, then it will have a better impact on pollution levels in Delhi. Minister Rai said,
I think that comparatively, firecrackers were burst at a lesser number of locations this time (during Dussehra). I would like to once again request that the states in Delhi-NCR ban firecrackers because they are easily available to people in their states. I think if NCR states ban it too, this will have a better impact on Delhi.
On the improvement, the Environment Minister said,
Two days ago, the AQI level in Delhi was above 300. A decrease in the AQI level has been recorded and it has come below 300. I think that in the days to come, this will keep fluctuating. It is being estimated that after October 30, this will perhaps go up again.
Further speaking on stubble burning, Minister Rai said,
Stubble burning is going on but the number of such cases is low as of now. But it is being estimated that these cases will increase around October 30. It is to be seen what kind of impact the measures taken up in Punjab have.
Also Read: Delhi’s Air Turns ‘Very Poor’ As Air Quality Crosses 300-Mark; Government Issues Directions
As stubble burning continues in parts of Punjab and Haryana, air quality in the national capital has worsened in the past few days. According to data, over 2,500 cases of stubble burning have been reported this year so far. However, farm fire numbers are better than those of the previous two years. The second phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was implemented in Delhi to reduce the effect of increased pollution.
The Air Quality Index is a tool for effective communication of air quality status to people in terms that are easy to understand. There are six AQI categories, namely Good + Satisfactory, Moderately Polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe.
Each of these categories is decided based on the ambient concentration values of air pollutants and their likely health impacts (known as health breakpoints). According to the AQI scale, the air quality check between 0 and 50 is “good”, 51 and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 “moderate”, 201 and 300 “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor”, and 401 and 450 “severe”.
Also Read: Delhi Air Quality Plunges Into ‘Poor’ Category With Air Quality Index Of 245
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – theLGBTQ population,indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the currentCOVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water,SanitationandHygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fightmalnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health,adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues likeair pollution,waste management,plastic ban,manual scavengingand sanitation workers andmenstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India wheretoiletsare used andopen defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched byPrime Minister Narendra Modiin 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
