Page 3 - Air Pollution

Delhi's air quality in 'very poor' category as AQI reaches 353: SAFAR

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the AQI in the National Capital Region of Gurugram stood at 371, with Noida also registering the same figure

Delhi in 2022 logged 2nd-lowest average PM2.5, PM10 levels in 5 years

Delhi in 2022 saw the lowest recorded daily average PM10 and PM2.5 concentration in five years, barring 2020 with lowest anthropogenic activities due to the pandemic-related restrictions, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said on Monday. PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations in 2022, with all activities in full throttle in the Delhi-NCR region, were even lower than those recorded in 2021, it said in a statement. The city logged average PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations of 211 microgram per cubic metre and 98 microgram per cubic metre. The values were the lowest after 2020 which saw average PM 10 and PM2.5 concentrations of 181 microgram per cubic metre and 95 microgram per cubic metre, respectively. Delhi's PM2.5 levels remained in the severe category for 204 hours in 2022 compared to 628 hours in 2021. The average air quality index (AQI) was recorded below the 200-mark for 1,096 hours in 2022 as against 827 hours in 2021, the Centre's air quality panel said. In 2022, Delhi al

Delhi's AQI in 'very poor' category, GRAP stage III norms remain enforced

The Sub-Committee is keeping a close watch on the situation and will review the air quality scenario accordingly on a regular basis, said the Ministry

CAQM invokes Stage III of GRAP as air pollution in Delhi-NCR rises

Delhi's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) clocked at 399 on Friday as per the 4PM AQI Bulletin provided by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

GRAP stage III invoked in Delhi-NCR, non-essential construction work banned

In view of a spike in air pollution, the Centre's air quality panel on Friday directed implementation of curbs under stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR, including a ban on non-essential construction and demolition work. Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index stood at 399 on Friday, just two notches below the severe category. The Sub-Committee on GRAP, at a review meeting, noted that the AQI is likely to slip into the severe category due to calm winds and stable atmospheric conditions. It directed authorities in Delhi-NCR to invoke curbs under stage III of the anti-pollution plan with immediate effect. If the AQI is projected to reach the severe category, restrictive actions under Stage III are to be invoked at least three days in advance, according to GRAP. Curbs under Stage III include a ban on non-essential construction and demolition, closure of stone crushers and mining activities in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR).

Air in North India turns 'poor' again as rains play truant, winds go slow

Plunge in AQI attributed to 'winter inversion', where cooler air is trapped under a warmer layer, creating an atmospheric blanket that traps pollutants closer to the Earth's surface

BJP demands white paper on pollution from Delhi govt as AQI deteriorates

For the last two days the national capital is facing an air emergency situation with the AQI levels at over 400, crossing the "severe" threshold

Delhi govt to run 10-day anti-open burning campaign as pollution spikes

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has directed officials to run a special 10-day anti-open burning campaign in the national capital starting Tuesday in view of the spike in air pollution. Delhi's air quality plunged to the severe category on Monday and the 24-hour average AQI stood at 410 at 4 pm. Pollution levels ameliorated to the very poor category on Tuesday morning at the overall AQI stood at 376 at 11 am. An AQI between zero 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. "In view of the increasing pollution, instructions have been given to officials to run 'Anti Open Burning Special Campaign' for the next 10 days," Rai tweeted. He said 611 teams of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Revenue Department, and other government agencies will take action on the ground. The minister also appealed to all the agencies and resident welfare associations of D

Bengal to plant trees at border to prevent air pollutants from other states

West Bengal Environment Minister Manas Bhunia said that air pollution in southern districts of the state was increasing due to stubble burning in neighbouring Jharkhand and Bihar. Addressing a press conference on Monday, he said the state government was planning to plant "tall trees" along the border to prevent smoke from stubble burning enter the state. Asked which species of trees will be planted and by when, Bhunia later told PTI, "We are discussing these with experts and it will be announced shortly." "We will hold a meeting to decide the mechanism," he added. West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) chairman Kalyan Rudra said a satellite-based mechanism to monitor the burning of stubble has been developed with assistance from IIT-Delhi. Bhunia also said sensors will be installed in state-run buses to measure air pollution on Kolkata roads Initially, the devices will be installed in buses of six-seven routes that crisscross the city, he said. "We will soon install sensors

Protesters refuse to stop demonstration in front of ethanol plant in Punjab

The protesters, who have been sitting on a dharna in front of the distillery and ethanol plant in Mansurwal village of this district for nearly five months, refused to lift the dharna on Saturday despite minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal reaching out to them. The Punjab minister for Rural Development and Panchayat assured the protesters on all the decisions which were agreed upon between their delegation and the government. Villagers with the support of some farmer unions have been holding the protest in front of the plant in Mansurwal village, seeking its closure while claiming that it was polluting underground water in several villages in the area, besides causing air pollution. The protest is being held under the banner of the Sanjha Zira Morcha since July 24. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had on Friday evening held a meeting with a delegation of agitators in Chandigarh to address their issues. While interacting with the protesters on Saturday, Dhaliwal assured them of protecting

Delhi wakes up to cold morning with min temp of 6 deg C, 'poor' AQI

Delhiites woke up to a cold Saturday morning as the minimum temperature in the city settled at six degrees Celsius, two notches below the season's average. The relative humidity at 8.30 am was 91 per cent, according to the meteorological department. Delhi's air quality was recorded in the 'poor' category as the air quality index stood at 290 at 9.10 am. An AQI between zero 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'. The weatherman predicted mainly clear skies for the day with the maximum temperature likely to settle around 25 degrees Celsius.

Kejriwal govt hasn't issued orders to control air pollution yet: Delhi L-G

What makes this whole story sordid and extremely unacceptable is that Kejriwal and his Ministers remained busy with politicking, electioneering and pushing the unscientific and hazardous

Delhi records 6.4 degree Celsius temperature, air quality 'moderate'

Air quality in the national capital continued to remain in the 'moderate' category on Thursday, while the minimum temperature settled at 6.4 degrees Celsius, two notches below the season's average. The maximum temperature is expected to hover around 25 degrees Celsius, according to an India Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin. As per the data by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 9 am stood at 196 (moderate category). An AQI between zero 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. The relative humidity at 8.30 am was 79 per cent, the IMD bulletin said.

To fight deadly smog, farmers are being encouraged to sell crop waste

Smoke from the burning of crop stubble lingers over most of north India for weeks during the cold months of November and December, with air quality deteriorating to hazardous levels in several areas

Delhi's AQI improves to 'moderate'; min temp settles at 8.9 degrees Celsius

Delhiites woke up to a chill in the air on Tuesday morning as the minimum temperature settled at 8.9 degrees Celsius, even as the the air quality in the national capital improved to 'moderate'. The minimum temperature on Monday was recorded at 8.4 degrees Celsius, a notch below the normal. The air quality index was recorded in the 'moderate' category, with the air quality index (AQI) standing at 195 at around 9 AM, data from the Central Pollution Control Board showed. The maximum temperature a day earlier had stood at 27.1 degrees Celsius, four notches above the season's average, while the air quality was recorded in the 'poor' category. The 24-hour AQI was recorded at 218 ('poor') at 4 PM for the city. An AQI between zero 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'. The minimum temperature on Tuesday was recorded at 8.9 degrees Celsius, according to data shared by the India

Air quality in Delhi remains in 'very poor' category with AQI at 301

As the mercury dropped in the national capital the smog levels increased

NGT seeks response from MoEFCC on pollution done by slaughterhouses

The National Green Tribunal has recently sought a response from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and others while hearing a petition regarding the pollution caused by slaughterhouses. The petition claimed that slaughterhouses contributed immensely to pollution besides damaging the environment. It said whenever a new slaughterhouse was to be established, it was necessary to examine its impact on the environment according to the 2006 Environment Impact Assessment notification brought out to scrutinise all information about a project or activity and its potential adverse impacts on the ecology of a region. The petition argued that slaughterhouses and processing units must be brought within the ambit of the notification. A bench comprising judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel said it was a "substantial question" related to environment. "Let respondents No. 1 (MoEF&CC)...file their response, if any, within one

Delhi faces another 'very poor' air day with AQI at 337, smog increases

As the mercury dropped in the national capital the smog levels also increased

No conclusive data to show correlation of death due to air pollution: Govt

There is no conclusive data available to establish a direct correlation of death or disease exclusively due to air pollution, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar told the Lok Sabha on Friday. The minister, however, said air pollution is one of the many factors affecting respiratory ailments and associated diseases. Health is impacted by a number of factors which includes food habits, occupational habits, socio-economic status, medical history, immunity, heredity, etc., of the individuals apart from the environment, Pawar said in a written reply. "There is no conclusive data available to establish a direct correlation of death/disease exclusively due to air pollution. "While air pollution is known to be one of the aggravating factors for many respiratory ailments, specific information on the number of deaths exclusively due to air pollution is not available," Pawar said. Pawar listed several steps taken by the government to address air pollution issues such as Pradhan

Sri Lanka shuts schools as air quality deteriorates due to extreme weather

Schools across Sri Lanka were closed on Friday as health and environment officials said the air quality in most parts of the island nation was unhealthy partly due to extreme weather conditions. Polluted air from neighbouring India was aggravating the problem, authorities said, as a storm in the Bay of Bengal triggered heavy rains and winds across Sri Lanka in recent days. A haze hung over the capital, Colombo, and other parts of the country, with the level of fine particles in the air reaching unhealthy levels. The current pollution has arisen due to the combination of local air pollutants and transboundary air pollution, said the National Building Research Organisation, a state agency involved in environmental monitoring and risk management. This condition can be seen in all parts of Sri Lanka and it has a tendency to cause health problems, it added. Director General of Health Services Asela Gunawardena said the condition would continue for the next two weeks and he advised peop