Delhi gasps for breath as pollution remains in 'very poor' category
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During winter season each year, most of northern India suffers from a spike in toxicity in the air due to the change in weather patterns and crop residue burning in the neighbouring states of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
The overall air quality in Delhi and its adjoining areas remained in 'very poor' category on Friday, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).
In Delhi's Lodhi Road area, the air quality was in the 'moderate' category with major pollutants PM 2.5 at 261 and PM 10 at 249, according to the air quality index. While in Anand Vihar area, it remained in the 'hazardous' with PM 10 at 466 and PM 2.5 at 393.
During winter season each year, most of northern India suffers from a spike in toxicity in the air due to the change in weather patterns and crop residue burning in the neighbouring states of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.
Not only that, but a dip in temperature along with low wind speed also tends to trap air pollutants closer to the ground.
Meanwhile, on Thursday, environment minister Prakash Javadekar told Rajya Sabha that several initiatives have been taken to "abate and control air pollution in Delhi/NCR".
Javadekar told the Upper House that a high-level task force was constituted under the chairmanship of the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister for the same and that "regular review meetings have been held," news agency ANI quoted the minister.
The minister also said that a comprehensive air plan for Delhi NCR has been developed, "identifying the timelines and implementing agencies for actions delineated".
He also said that the Central government has notified a graded response action plan for Delhi/NCR for different levels of pollution.