Little relief for Delhi; Air pollution has gone from severe to very poor category
Air pollution has gone from a severe category to a very poor category. The Air Quality Index is currently 372. In the last few days it was over 450
The day after Diwali, Delhi and its suburbs were shrouded in thick fog. Despite the state government banning firecrackers, people continued to set off firecrackers till midnight. According to figures released by the Central Pollution Control Board, the air quality index at all air pollution monitoring stations in Delhi was above 450 at that time.
Cold and low wind speed increased pollution. The Pollution Control Board estimates that if the air quality index is 301 to 400, it is very bad and 401 to 500 is critical. In the run-up to Diwali on October 27, the Delhi government had launched a campaign titled ‘Light the lights, not the fireworks’. The government had warned that those who explode firecrackers would be prosecuted under the Explosives Act and other IPC rules. So far, the government has seized 13,000 kg of illegal firecrackers and arrested 33 people.
Air pollution in neighboring states, including Haryana, has risen sharply after the post-harvest widespread burning of straw, including in Delhi. The air quality index in Delhi turned bad on Thursday morning. Thursday was the first snow-covered morning before winter. Zafar had warned that even if the firecrackers did not explode, Delhi’s air quality index would go into critical condition. The situation was further aggravated by the explosion of firecrackers.
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