Delhi struggles to breathe amid ‘severe’ air quality; no respite for 15 days, say experts

Delhi-NCR once again woke up to haze and toxic smoke with the air quality of the national capital remaining in severe category on Friday.The AQI, or the air quality index, in the Lodhi Road area, was recorded at 438, in Jahangirpuri it was at 491, in the RK Puram area at 486 and around IGI Airport (T3) 473.AQI in Noida Sector 125 at 400 in 'Very Poor' category; in Sector 62 at 483, Sector 1 at 413 and Sector 116 at 415 in 'Severe' category.An AQI between O 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 and above 500, it is hazardous.As per aqi.in, "The current PM2.5 concentration in New Delhi is 23.3 times above the recommended limit given by the WHO 24 hours air quality guidelines value."PM2.5 are very small particles usually found in smoke and breathing in them can affect health.PM2.5 particles are small enough for you to breath them deeply into your lungs. Sometimes particles can enter your bloodstream.Scientists and experts have warned of further deterioration in the air quality in Delhi-NCR over the next two weeks.Cause of 'severe' AQI in Delhi?Delhi's air quality in October 2023 was the worst since 2020 with no rainfall in the month this year. As compared to October's 123mm precipitation, this year in the same month it was only 5.4mm.As per experts, a rise in stubble burning and adverse meteorological conditions have led to a sudden deterioration in air quality.Air pollution peaks in Delhi between November 1 and 15 when there is an increase in stubble burning by the farmers of Punjab and Haryana increases. Though the Commission for Air Quality Management said the incidents of stubble burning in both Punjab and Haryana reduced since September 15 this year, but a significant jump was witnessed in the last few days.On Thursday around 5pm, the air quality turned ‘severe’. The sub-committee of the Commission for Air Quality Management enforced the measures for ‘severe’ air pollution under stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan with immediate effect in Delhi and NCR.Smoke from stubble burning accounted for 25 per cent of the PM2.5 pollution in the capital on Thursday, a model-based study by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology in Pune revealed. It further said PM2.5 may go up to 35 per cent on Friday.What is the government doing?To fight the worsening air quality, a ban on BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four-wheelers has been enforced in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar (Noida), as well as surrounding areas. With this, the government aims to mitigate the adverse effects of vehicular emissions on air pollution in the region.The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is sprinkling water in the Lodhi Road area as a measure against the rise in AQI in the city. Truck-mounted water sprinklers are being used in the central Delhi area in a bid to control the pollution.The government will increase the frequency of mechanised sweeping of roads and ensure daily water-sprinkling along with dust suppressants.In most districts within the National Capital Region (NCR) restrictions on vehicles with older emissions standards have been imposed.Primary schools have been asked to declare a holiday for two days.Restrictions have been imposed in demolition works, loading and unloading of construction materials anywhere within or outside the project sites, transfer of raw materials either manually or through conveyor belts, including fly ash, movement of vehicles on unpaved roads, operation of batching plant, laying of sewer line, waterline, drainage work and electric cabling by open trench system, cutting and fixing of tiles, stones and other flooring materials, waterproofing work, painting, polishing and varnishing works etc and road construction/ repair works including paving of sidewalks/pathways and central verges etc.The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will run 20 extra metro trains as people are encouraged to ditch cars and use the metro.In the wake of the worsening AQI, Section 144 has been invoked in Gurugram, meanwhile, Noida and Greater Noida will begin restricting GRAP III from Friday.With inputs from agencies