Keeping Track of Delhi’s Air Pollution: Effects and the safety measures to be followed

The Delhi and central governments may allow public, municipal, and private offices to operate with half of their staff working from home. Delhi NCR’s air quality decreased during the past week because of a gradual drop in temperature, calm wind that does not disperse pollutants and an outbreak of post harvest paddy straw burning across Punjab and Haryana. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a statutory body responsible for formulating strategies to combat pollution in the region, asked Delhi and NCR states to order a ban on construction work related to linear public projects( Works on construction and demolition of buildings, including civil works like bridges and power lines).

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Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai addressed a letter to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav urging that only CNG, electric and BS VI-compliant vehicles be permitted in Delhi-NCR in view of the worsening air quality ahead of Diwali and expectations of further deterioration. The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday (11 November 2023) that its earlier order prohibiting the use of firecrackers containing barium and prohibited chemicals is applicable nationwide and binding on all states. He announced the Odd even Pollution Prevention Scheme, which will begin on November 13 and will be continued until November 20.

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With a University of Chicago study estimating that air pollution shortens life expectancy by more than 12 years, Delhi is one of the most polluted capital cities in the world. The average air quality index(AQI), measured at 4 p.m. every day, deteriorated from 415 on Saturday to 454 on Sunday, leading the Centre to implement all the emergency measures required under the final stage IV of its air pollution control plan, the Graded Response

Action Plan.

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GRAP categorizes actions into four stages:

Stage I – ‘Poor’ (AQI 201-300);

Stage II – ‘Very Poor’ (AQI 301-400);

Stage III – ‘Severe’ (AQI 401-450);

Stage IV – ‘Severe Plus’ (AQI 450).

The city’s AQI stood at 440 at 7 a.m. on Monday.

In order to curb air pollution in Delhi, the government of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has banned app based taxis from entering the national capital. Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai told reporters that there have been a ban on app-based cabs entering the capital, and they are limited to taxis bearing registration numbers of Delhi.

The Delhi government will try to generate artificial rain in order to reduce air pollution, as it is getting worse day by day. In addition, the Delhi Government has made its plea to the Supreme Court, said Minister of Environment Gopal Rai.

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