Delhi's Air Quality Nears Emergency Threshold, Schools Closed, Construction Work Banned

Delhi-NCR's air quality neared the emergency threshold on Thursday, prompting an immediate ban on non-essential construction work and the closure of primary schools in the capital. As a dense and pungent haze blanketed the skyline of Delhi-NCR, the concentration of PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can penetrate deep into the respiratory system and trigger health problems, exceeded the safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic metre by a seven to eightfold at multiple locations throughout the region.

New Delhi: Delhi-NCR's air quality neared the emergency threshold on Thursday, prompting an immediate ban on non-essential construction work and the closure of primary schools in the capital, as authorities acted swiftly to address the health-threatening pollution.

Dense Smog Engulfs Delhi-NCR

As a dense and pungent haze blanketed the skyline of Delhi-NCR, the concentration of PM2.5, fine particulate matter that can penetrate deep into the respiratory system and trigger health problems, exceeded the safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic meter by a seven to eightfold at multiple locations throughout the region.

Stubble Burning Contributes to Pollution

According to a numerical model-based system developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune, smoke from stubble burning accounted for 25 percent of the PM2.5 pollution in Delhi on Thursday. It may shoot up to 35 percent on Friday.

Government Takes Action

Alarmed by the spike in air pollution levels, the Centre's pollution control panel ordered an immediate ban on non-essential construction work, stone crushing, and mining in the region. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that all government and private primary schools in the city will remain closed for the next two days in view of rising pollution levels. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has called an emergency meeting on Friday to review the situation.

Graded Response Action Plan

The Centre's action comes as part of Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) -- the Centre's air pollution control plan which is implemented in the region during the winter season. GRAP categorizes actions into four stages: Stage I - poor AQI 201-300; Stage II - very poor AQI 301-400; Stage III - severe AQI 401-450; and Stage IV - severe plus AQI above 450.

Air Quality Expected to Worsen

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a statutory body responsible for developing strategies to combat pollution in the region, said the pollution levels are only expected to increase further owing to highly unfavorable meteorological and climatic conditions. The city's AQI plunged to 422 at 10 pm, the worst this season so far. The 24-hour average AQI was 364 on Wednesday, 359 on Tuesday, 347 on Monday, 325 on Sunday, 304 on Saturday, and 261 on Friday.

Neighboring Cities Also Affected

Not just Delhi, several cities in neighboring Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh also reported hazardous air. These included Hanumangarh 438 and Sri Ganganagar 359 in Rajasthan; Hisar 414, Fatehabad 423, Jind 413, Rohtak 388, Sonepat 374, Kurukshetra 343, Karnal 343, Kaithal 379, Bhiwani 355, Faridabad 368 and Gurugram 297 in Haryana; and Ghaziabad 286, Noida 313 and Greater Noida 402 in Uttar Pradesh.

Health Concerns

While scientists warned of a spike in pollution levels in Delhi-NCR over the next two weeks, doctors expressed concerns about a potential rise in respiratory problems. Health professionals have expressed concerns that air pollution is increasing asthma and lung problems in children and the elderly.

Unfavorable Meteorological Conditions

An official from the India Meteorological Department reported that visibility reduced to just 500 meters at the Safdarjung Observatory around 7 am, gradually improving to 800 meters as temperatures increased during the day. Cold temperatures create stable atmospheric conditions, known as temperature inversions, where a layer of warm air traps cooler air near the ground, allowing the accumulation of pollutants.

Economic Impact

Air pollution in India resulted in 1.67 million deaths in 2019 -- the largest pollution-related death toll in any country in the world -- and accounted for USD 36.8 billion in economic losses, according to a new study by researchers from the Global Observatory on Pollution and Health at Boston College, the Indian Council of Medical Research, and the Public Health Foundation of India.

Rainfall Deficit

One of the major reasons behind the accumulation of pollutants in recent days is the lack of rainfall during this post-monsoon season so far. According to government data, Delhi's air quality in October 2023 was the worst since 2020, with meteorologists attributing it to the absence of rainfall. The capital recorded an AQI of 210 in October, compared to 210 in October last year and 173 in October 2021, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Stubble Burning and Local Emissions

Unfavorable meteorological conditions, combined with emissions from firecrackers, paddy straw burning, and local pollution sources, contribute to hazardous air quality levels in Delhi-NCR during winter. According 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 increase.

Government Efforts

The Delhi government launched a 15-point action plan last month to mitigate air pollution during the winter season, with a strong emphasis on addressing dust pollution, vehicular emissions, and open burning of garbage. In line with the practice of the last three years, the Delhi government last month also announced a comprehensive ban on the manufacture, storage, sale, and use of firecrackers within the city. It has launched Red Light on Gaadi Off campaign to curb vehicular pollution and plans to hire 1,000 private CNG buses to strengthen public transport and reduce vehicular pollution.

Delhi's air quality has been a growing concern for years, with the city consistently ranking as one of the most polluted in the world. The recent spike in pollution levels is a stark reminder of the urgent need to address this issue. While the government has taken some steps to mitigate the problem, more needs to be done to ensure that Delhi's residents can breathe clean air.