Delhi Continues to Suffer from Severe Air Pollution Crisis
In a persistent environmental crisis, the air quality in Delhi has once again reached severe levels, indicating a dire situation for residents. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported that the national capital’s air quality index (AQI) climbed to 514 at 5:30am, a sharp contrast to the previous day’s reading of 218—its best AQI for Diwali in eight years.
Despite the Supreme Court’s ban on firecrackers to combat air pollution during Diwali festivities, people in Delhi-NCR violated the ban and celebrated with vigor, causing noise and pollution levels to rise. This has contributed to two weeks of consistently poor air quality in the region. The primary factors responsible are the ongoing practice of stubble burning by farmers in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana, combined with cooler temperatures.
The Delhi government has taken several anti-pollution measures to tackle the crisis, but their efforts have not been sufficient to mitigate the problem. Data from the CPCB shows that areas like Anand Vihar and RK Puram in Delhi recorded AQIs of 289 and 281 respectively at 5:00am. Neighboring Uttar Pradesh also experienced a decline in air quality due to Diwali celebrations, with the average AQI falling within the poor category. In the National Capital Region (NCR), Noida reported an AQI of 269, while Gurugram recorded an air quality reading of 329.
Environmentalists have criticized the Delhi authorities for their failure to enforce the firecracker ban imposed by the Supreme Court, stating that it highlights yet another shortcoming of the Arvind Kejriwal administration. Bhavreen Kandhari, an environmentalist, expressed concern over the impact of such celebrations on children and urged for stronger regulations. We are allowing our children to choke in the name of celebration, Kandhari said.
It comes as no surprise that Delhi experiences its worst air pollution between November 1 and November 15 each year, coinciding with increased stubble burning by farmers in neighboring states. To measure air quality, the AQI scale categorizes it as good between 0-50, satisfactory between 51-100, moderate between 101-200, poor between 201-300, and very poor between 301-400. The range of 401-500 is labeled as severe, while any AQI above 500 is classified as severe plus.
The situation in Delhi demands immediate attention and action from authorities to address the severe air pollution crisis. As the city grapples with hazardous levels of pollution, it is crucial for stakeholders to come together and implement effective measures to safeguard the health and well-being of Delhiites.
