How bad is Delhi’s air quality?
Recently, the air in Delhi got really bad for the first time this season. The Environment Minister of Delhi, Gopal Rai, called a meeting to figure out what to do. Delhi is one of the most polluted cities in the world.
Recently, residents have complained of eye irritation, itching throats, etc., and the air turned grey as the Air Quality Index (AQI) touched around 480 in several parts of the city.
What’s the reason behind the increase in air pollution?
The Pune-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology says smoke from stubble burning is causing 25% of the pollution. Pollution in Delhi gets worse from the 1st to the 15th of November due to stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana.
The city’s air quality falls in early winter because the wind doesn't blow much, people light fireworks during festivals, and it gets colder. Stubble burning makes Delhi's already bad air quality even worse.
What is the Delhi government doing about the rise in pollution?
The Chief Minister (CM) of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, said that all elementary schools in Delhi would be closed for two days. Water is also being sprayed to reduce air pollution. Last month, the Delhi government banned firecrackers in the city.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) ordered that any unnecessary construction work in the city should stop immediately as part of the third phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
In the second phase, public transportation like the Delhi metro and electric buses had to run more often to reduce car pollution.
What is the Graded Response Action Plan?
GRAP is a set of rules to help clean the air in Delhi and nearby areas during winter. Earlier, GRAP was used only when the air was very bad. But this time, it was implemented before the air got bad. GRAP has four stages, depending on how clean the air is: They are:
- Stage 1- poor (AQI 201-300)
- Stage 2- very poor (AQI 301-400)
- Stage 3- severe (AQI 401-450)
- Stage 4- severe plus' (AQI >450)
Different steps are taken according to the stages.
What is the opposition saying about the pollution levels?
Members of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Delhi unit have criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Delhi’s ruling party, regarding the pollution levels. They said that stubble burning in Punjab continues to be a major source of pollution in Delhi, but AAP is not doing anything about it.
With the increasing pollution levels, you must protect yourself. We have written some steps about it here.
