Air quality in Capital worsens post Dussehra celebrations: What Delhi is doing to curb air pollution
New Delhi, Oct 26: The air quality in the national capital worsened on Monday morning post Dussehra celebrations, as the overall air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 349. The slight increase in AQI was observed as there was a rise in the concentration of both, PM10 and PM2.5 pollutants.
The air quality is likely to pose additional health risks amid the coronavirus pandemic.
This comes even as the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has been implemented in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) from October 15 to check air pollution, which spikes around this time of the year.
Study reveals air pollution in India caused over 1.15 lakh infant deaths in 2019
According to the air quality index (AQI) maintained by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), 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 per CPCB figures available at 8.00 am on Monday, Air Quality Index in Anand Vihar region was measured 402, which falls in the "severe" category. At 309, ITO's air was found to be "very poor". According to the CPCB, an AQI in the "very poor" category can lead to respiratory illness on prolonged exposure, while "severe" affects healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases.
On Sunday, Delhi's air quality plunged to 'severe' in at least three areas and remained in the 'very poor' zone for most other parts. On Saturday, the city's overall AQI reading was 345.
Smog
guns
As
part
of
Graded
Response
Action
Plan
(GRAP),
the
Delhi
govt
has
also
installed
anti-smog
guns
at
large
construction
sites
in
the
national
capital
to
control
pollution.
Reportedly
smog
guns
have
already
been
placed
at
10
construction
sites
in
Delhi.
Red
Light
On,
Gaadi
Off
campaign
In
view
of
the
rising
pollution
levels
in
Delhi,
the
Delhi
government
has
been
carrying
out
an
anti-dust
campaign
called
Red
Light
On,
Gaadi
off
to
reduce
vehicular
emission.
The
Arvind
Kejriwal
led
government
in
the
national
capital
estimates
that
nearly
15-20%
vehicular
pollution
can
be
controlled,
if
people
cooperate
and
participate
in
this
mass
campaign.
Pusa
decomposer
It
is
essentially
a
fungi-based
liquid
solution
that
can
soften
hard
stubble
to
the
extent
that
it
can
be
easily
mixed
with
soil
in
the
field
to
act
as
compost.
This would then rule out the need to burn the stubble, and also help in retaining the essential microbes and nutrients in soil that are otherwise damaged when the residue is burned. However, the govt needs farmers' consent to spray the solution in their field.
Diesel
generators
banned
Starting
October
15,
diesel
generator
sets
can
no
longer
be
used
except
for
essential
and
emergency
services
in
Delhi
and
the
NCR
towns
of
Noida,
Ghaziabad,
Greater
Noida,
Faridabad,
and
Gurgaon.
The
only
exception
is
DG
sets
used
for
emergency
and
essential
services.
Recommended Video
Ban
on
construction
on
cards
As
of
now,
authorities
have
not
banned
construction
in
Delhi
NCR
region.
However,
authorities
have
made
it
clear
that
measures
such
as
a
ban
on
construction
activity,
industries
using
non-PNG
fuels,
and
closure
of
thermal
power
plants
will
kick
in
when
the
air
quality
in
the
region
hits
emergency
levels.