<h5>How bad is Delhi’s air quality?</h5><p>Recently, Delhi’s air quality fell to severe levels for the first time this season. Scientists predict that it will worsen in the next two weeks (oh no!). Delhi’s Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, has called for an emergency meeting to look into the situation. Our capital is one of the most polluted cities in the world.</p><p>Recently, residents have complained of eye irritation, itching throats, etc., while the air turned grey as the Air Quality Index (AQI) touched around 480 in several parts of the city.</p><figure class="image"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/newsahoot.appspot.com/o/delhi-s-air-quality-worsens%2FDelhi%20smoke.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=abb122e4-2c38-46fe-ad8e-d356d51ff4fe&amp;_gl=1*m8yhje*_ga*MTIzNjQ0ODg2NS4xNjgzNzk5MjMy*_ga_CW55HF8NVT*MTY5OTI1MTQ3OC4yOTUuMS4xNjk5MjUyNTE5LjQ3LjAuMA.."><figcaption>Satellite image shows smoke blanket. Photo by Copernicus EU.</figcaption></figure><h5>What’s the reason behind the increase in air pollution?</h5><p>The Pune-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology says smoke from stubble burning is causing 25% of the pollution. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) also says that pollution increases in Delhi from 1st to 15th November, when stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana increases.</p><p>The city’s air quality drops during the early winter months due to reasons like low wind speeds, the use of firecrackers during festivals, cooler temperatures, etc. Stubble burning ends up worsening the already polluted air of Delhi.</p><h5>What is the Delhi government doing about the rise in pollution?</h5><figure class="image"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/newsahoot.appspot.com/o/delhi-s-air-quality-worsens%2FDelhi%20Water.jpg?alt=media&amp;token=4a2124ed-63ea-4f72-8682-57bb81c22f2f&amp;_gl=1*t29ia9*_ga*MTIzNjQ0ODg2NS4xNjgzNzk5MjMy*_ga_CW55HF8NVT*MTY5OTI1MTQ3OC4yOTUuMS4xNjk5MjUyNjEwLjUzLjAuMA.."><figcaption>Water being sprayed to reduce smoke and pollution. Photo by Dr. Shelly Oberoi.</figcaption></figure><p>On 2nd November 2023, Delhi Chief Minister (CM) Arvind Kejriwal announced that all government and private elementary schools in Delhi would be closed for two days. Water is being sprayed to reduce air pollution. Last month, the Delhi government also banned the sale, manufacture and usage of firecrackers within the city. This has been done for three years.</p><p>The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) ordered the immediate suspension of non-essential building work in the city under the third phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).</p><p>Under the second phase of GRAP, all public transport systems, including the Delhi metro and electric bus services, etc., were told to increase their frequency to reduce automobile emissions.</p><h5>What is the Graded Response Action Plan?</h5><p>GRAP is a set of anti-air pollution measures that are implemented during the winter season in Delhi - National Capital Region (NCR). It has been developed following multiple meetings held by the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) with state governments.</p><p>Previously, GRAP was put into action in the event of poor air quality. But this time, the government implemented GRAP before Delhi’s air quality turned poor.</p><p>Different steps of the plan are implemented depending on the air quality. GRAP for the NCR has four implementation stages. They are:</p><ul><li>Stage 1- poor (AQI 201-300)</li><li>Stage 2- very poor (AQI 301-400)</li><li>Stage 3- severe (AQI 401-450)</li><li>Stage 4- severe plus' (AQI &gt;450)</li></ul><p>Different prevention measures are implemented according to the stages.</p><h5>What is the opposition saying about the pollution levels?</h5><p>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 doing nothing about it.</p><p>With the increasing pollution levels, you must protect yourself. We have written some steps about it <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.newsahoot.com/articles/air-pollution-rises-to-dangerous-levels-in-delhi">here</a>.</p>

The AQI in several parts of Delhi has touched around 480.

Delhi’s Air Quality Worsens

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