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Delhi’s Air Quality Plummets to ‘Very Poor’ as Pollution Soars

Kehinde Fajobi

Air quality in India’s capital, Delhi, has severely deteriorated in recent days, with pollution levels reaching what experts categorise as “very poor” to “severe.”

According to data, pollution levels soared to 25-30 times above the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended safe limits in several parts of the city last week.

The government’s Safar website reported that particulate matter (PM 2.5), which poses significant health risks as it can penetrate deep into the lungs, reached alarming levels of up to 350 micrograms per cubic metre on Monday. This categorises the air quality as severe when PM 2.5 exceeds 400-500 micrograms per cubic metre.

Delhi typically experiences extreme air pollution from October to January each year, largely due to a combination of smoke, dust, low wind speeds, and emissions from vehicles. This annual crisis is exacerbated during the festival of Diwali, which falls this week, as the use of firecrackers significantly worsens pollution. In response, the Delhi government has announced a total ban on the manufacturing, storage, and sale of fireworks, although past efforts to enforce this ban have faced challenges, with residents often sourcing fireworks from neighbouring states.

Contributing to the worsening air quality is the practice of burning crop stubble in the adjacent states of Punjab and Haryana. Farmers often resort to this method to clear their fields, leading to substantial smoke that blankets Delhi.

While farming groups have expressed the need for financial and technical assistance to adopt alternative practices for clearing crop remains, existing government schemes have yet to yield effective solutions.

To combat the severe pollution, the Delhi government has deployed water tankers to sprinkle roads in an effort to settle dust.

Additionally, authorities have implemented the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), banning activities involving coal and firewood, as well as restricting the use of diesel generators for non-emergency purposes.

Given the dire situation, officials have advised residents to remain indoors as much as possible and have limited construction activities within the city.

Authorities are also encouraging the use of public transport to help reduce vehicular emissions, which significantly contribute to air pollution in the region.

As conditions are expected to worsen due to the combination of weather patterns, Diwali festivities, and crop burning, experts warn that immediate action is necessary to mitigate the impact on public health.

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