Delhi Air Pollution: Swiss air quality tech company IQAir listed Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai among the world’s most polluted cities today
Delhi Air Pollution Updates: It is another day of ‘severe’ category air pollution and a thick blanket of toxic haze for residents of Delhi-NCR with the Air Quality Index (AQI) standing at 457 at 5am today, as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) figures.
The air quality has been severe in Delhi and adjoining areas for the past three days now, with no respite being seen anytime soon amid stubble burning and upcoming Diwali festival, during which people are likely to burst crackers.
Read More: Smartphone manufacturing: How ‘Make in India’ is marking a difference
As per CPCB, an AQI of 0-50 is considered ‘Good’ with minimal impact, AQI of 51-100 forms ‘Satisfactory’ category with minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people, 101-200 is the ‘Moderate’ category which can lead to breathing discomfort to the people with lungs, asthma and heart diseases, 201-300 is the ‘Poor’ category with possibilities of breathing discomfort to most people on prolonged exposure, 301-400 AQI is the ‘Very Poor’ category with possible health impact of respiratory illness on prolonged exposure, and an AQI of 401-500 is the ‘Severe’ category that can affect healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases.
Delhi Air Pollution News Latest Updates:
-Severe Category AQI According to CPCB data, The air quality index in most parts of Delhi today morning was recorded above the 400-mark, which falls under Severe’ category. Reports suggest that no major relief is expected anytime soon, a western disturbance November 7 unlikely to impact the plains. We may not see any major change yet,” Kuldeep Srivastava of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
-Choking Haze Continues Over Delhi-NCR: A thick blanket of haze, that resembles what the end of an apocalypse would look like, continues to blanket Delhi and adjoining areas like Noida and Ghaziabad.
Read More: PM Modi announces extension of free ration scheme in poll-bound Chhattisgarh
Residents have been complaining of burning sensation in eyes, coughing and other issues triggered by the air pollution. Ajay, a morning walker in Lodhi Garden, said, “The situation of pollution is such that we are experiencing a burning sensation in our eyes. The situation was better earlier, but now it is getting worse..”
-Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai Among Most Polluted Cities in World: Data by Swiss air quality tech company IQAir listed Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai among the world’s most polluted cities today.
Read More: Centre allows SBI to issue and encash electoral bonds from November 6
Most polluted cities today, as per IQAir data
While Delhi topped the list, with an AQI of 483 at 7.30 am today, Kolkata and Mumbai were among the top five worst-hit cities by air pollution with an AQI of 206 and 162 respectively.
Delhi Govt Seeks Ban on Entry of Polluting Vehicles Into NCR: Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai on Saturday said that despite the slight improvement from the past two days, Delhi will be in a “critical situation” over the next few days owing to Diwali and more stubble (parali) burning incidents in neighbouring states.
Rai wrote to the central government to ban entry of polluting vehicles into the NCR, and asked the Centre to convene a meeting with the environment ministers’ of the states concerned.
“Considering the coincidence of Diwali and more parali burning incidents expected in neighbouring states, the ambient air quality of the city is expected to deteriorate… Hence, may I request you to effectively ban entry of vehicles non compliant to BS6 norms into Delhi… I further request you to convene an emergency meeting of neighbouring states’ environment ministers including UP, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab and Delhi to address this important issue,” Rai said in his letter.
Delhi government has declared a ban on BS3 petrol and BS4 diesel vehicles within the city until further notice and also prohibited the entry of private buses from other states with BS4 diesel certifications.
