Delhi’s air quality declines further, pollution in Anand Vihar at ‘hazardous’ level

CPCB has warned that the air quality may further deteriorate in the next couple of days in Delhi.
NEW DELHI: Despite several corrective measures taken by the authorities, the air quality in some parts of Delhi fell in the ‘unhealthy category’ on Wednesday.
According to the Air Quality Index, the pollution level in the national capital was measured in ‘unhealthy category’.
Pollution level in Delhi’s Anand Vihar was recorded at 999 under ‘hazardous’ category, while the area around US Embassy, Chanakyapuri at 208 and area around Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium at 214 fell under ‘Unhealthy’ category as per the latest AQI data.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which recently implemented an emergency plan to curb air pollution, has warned that the air quality may further deteriorate in the next couple of days.
Air pollution in Delhi and nearby states rises particularly due to stubble burning during the months of October and November and burning of wheat straw during April by farmers in Punjab and Haryana.
An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered “good”, 51 and 100 “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 “moderate”, 201 and 300 “poor”, 301 and 400 “very poor”, and 401 and 500 “severe”.
Delhi’s Environment Minister Imran Hussain had formed a six-member inspection team to check air pollution in the national capital.
The six-member team comprises a representative of Deputy Commissioner (Revenue), Delhi Police, PWD, two representatives of MCD and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), and a representative of Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) – area in-charge, not below the rank of Environmental Engineer.
Meanwhile, images obtained through NASA satellite imagery has shown several spot fires already burning in Haryana and Punjab. On its official website, NASA had stated that burning of crop residue in Punjab and Haryana has increased significantly over the past 10 days in and around Amritsar, Ambala, Karnal, Sirsa, and Hisar.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had also warned that the city would soon become a “gas chamber” as the Centre, Punjab and Haryana governments did “absolutely nothing” for farmers involved in stubble burning.
In a significant development, the Supreme Court had on Tuesday refused to impose a blanket ban on the bursting of firecrackers, but allowed the use of green (eco-friendly and less polluting) firecrackers with reduced emission and decibel levels during all religious festivals.
Delhi was engulfed in a thick layer of smog after Diwali last year, bringing air quality standards to an all-time low in the national capital.