Page 7 - Air Pollution

Layer of smog lingers in Delhi sky, AQI continues to remain very poor

The air quality in the national capital continues to remain in the 'very poor' category with an overall AQI of 321, according to SAFAR

Delhi records air quality in 'very poor' category for third consecutive day

Delhi recorded its air quality in the very poor category for the third consecutive day on Monday and it is likely to deteriorate further in the coming days due to unhelpful meteorological conditions, forecasting agencies said. The capital's 24-hour average air quality index worsened from 339 on Sunday to 354 on Monday. It was 381 on Saturday. Farm fires in Punjab rebounded -- 2,487 incidents were reported on Monday as compared to 599 a day ago. However, their share in Delhi's PM2.5 pollution dipped from 18 per cent on Sunday to 14 per cent on Monday, according to data from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute and SAFAR, a forecasting agency under the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences. Delhi government on Monday decided to reopen primary classes from November 9 and revoke the order asking 50 per cent of its staff to work from home in view of improvement in the city's air quality over the last two days. However, plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi wi

Deploy anti-smog guns at C&D sites: CAQM tells Delhi-NCR pollution boards

The Centre's air quality panel has asked pollution control boards in Delhi-NCR to ensure deployment of anti-smog guns at construction and demolition sites in view of poor air quality in Delhi, an official statement said on Monday. The Commission for Air Quality Management has also recommended other measures, such as the use of wind brokers, dust barrier screens, covering of construction material and its debris, and proper disposal of construction wastes, including transportation in covered vehicles, at these sites, it said. The panel noted that these sites are a major and consistent source of air pollution in Delhi-NCR. "At least one anti-smog gun necessary for a total construction area between 5,000 to 10,000 square metre. Two anti-smog guns for area between 10,001 to 15,000 square metre. "For construction area between 15,001 to 20,000 square metre, at least three anti-smog guns are necessary. At least five anti-smog guns should be deployed for a total construction area above 20,

Severe policy lapse

Pollution control needs a holistic approach

Delhi air pollution: Lifting of curbs a hasty decision, say experts

Revoking curbs imposed in Delhi-NCR under the final stage of an action plan to combat air pollution could prove to be a hasty decision, experts said on Sunday and advised caution. Their reaction came after the Centre's air quality panel directed authorities on Sunday to lift the ban on plying of non-BS VI diesel-run light motor vehicles in Delhi-NCR and entry of trucks into the capital imposed under the final stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The restrictions were imposed three days ago. A decision on reopening primary schools and revocation of the order asking 50 per cent of government staff to work from home is likely to be taken at a high-level meeting to be chaired by Delhi Environment minister Gopal Rai on Monday, an official said. Environmentalist Vimlendu Jha said it could be too soon to revoke curbs as the air quality has improved a wee bit due to favourable wind speed and will go back to the 'severe' category in a couple of days. "These are knee jerk reacti

Paddy stubble burning events in Punjab rise 16 pc to 2,817 on Nov 5: ICAR

The number of paddy stubble burning incidents rose 16 per cent to 2,817 in Punjab on November 5 over the previous day even as the Centre has been appealing to farmers to use Pusa bio-decomposer and other machines for crop residue management. As per the data maintained by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), about 319 stubble burning events were reported in Madhya Pradesh, 91 in Rajasthan, 90 in Haryana, 24 in Uttar Pradesh and nil in Delhi on November 5. Between September 15 and November 5 this year, a total of 29,400 stubble burning events were detected in Punjab alone, followed by 2,530 events in Haryana, 2,246 in Madhya Pradesh, 927 in Uttar Pradesh, 587 in Rajasthan and 9 in Delhi. Stubble burning in neighbouring states, which has been an old menace during the paddy harvesting season, remains a significant contributor to air pollution, especially across northern India, including the national capital. Last week, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar had appeal

Air quality improves slightly in Delhi, GRAP Stage IV can be reviewed

After three consecutive days of air quality remaining into severe category, the quality Index improved slightly in the national capital city on Sunday morning

Eyes burn, fatigue: How air pollution is affecting people in Delhi NCR

Delhi air pollution: Entry of non-essential trucks, cars from Noida banned

The entry of BS-3 (petrol) and BS-4 (diesel) light four-wheeler vehicles in Delhi from the Noida border will also be banned

4 out of every 5 Delhi-NCR families face pollution-related ailments: Survey

Four out of every five families in Delhi-NCR have claimed to have experienced pollution-related ailments in the last few weeks, according to a survey. Meanwhile, 18 per cent of the total 19,000 people surveyed by LocalCircles have already visited a doctor. The survey also found that 80 per cent of the surveyed families have at least one member who is experiencing some kind of respiratory problem due to air pollution. The responses were sought from the residents of Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad with 63 per cent of respondents being male. "Four in five Delhi-NCR (National Capital Region) families surveyed have someone experiencing pollution-related ailments: 18 per cent have already visited a doctor or a hospital," the survey mentioned. Answering the question on the nature of the ailment, 80 per cent families said their members are "facing multiple issues due to the pollution", while 7 per cent denied having any issue at all due to the pollution. Meanwhile, 13 per

Long-term exposure to air pollution ups kidney disease risk: Study

As air pollution worsens in Delhi-NCR, a new study has warned that long-term exposure to air pollution may increase kidney disease risk.

Delhi under thick smog blanket, air quality remains severe for third day

In a slight improvement, Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 431 on Saturday morning, according to data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

Delhi air pollution worst in the world on Friday, shows Swiss firm data

Delhi government has ordered WFH for 50 per cent of govt staffers, primary schools have been ordered shut

Violation of ban on plying of vehicles to attract penalty of Rs 20,000

Violation of the Delhi government's ban on plying of certain vehicles owing to the rise in pollution will attract a penalty of Rs 20,000, a senior official said Friday. Delhi's air quality remained "severe" for a second day on the trot, with stubble burning accounting for 30 per cent of the PM2.5 pollution in the capital, according to the Central Pollution Control Board and SAFAR, a forecasting agency under the Ministry of Earth and Sciences. Delhi government has decided to implement the anti-pollution curbs recommended by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), including a ban on non-BS VI diesel-run light motor vehicles. Also, any diesel truck would not be allowed entry into Delhi except for those carrying essential commodities or providing essential services. However, all CNG and electric trucks would be allowed to enter Delhi, according to an order by the Transport Department. Diesel-operated medium and heavy goods vehicles registered in Delhi will not be allowed to

Delhi govt orders WFH for half its staff, primary schools to be shut

As capital chokes with air pollution, AAP takes responsibility for excessive stubble burning in the last few days

Take steps to bring down stubble burning incidents: CAQM to Punjab govt

The Centre's air quality panel on Friday directed deputy commissioners of all districts in Punjab, barring Pathankot, to take measures to "drastically" bring down the number of farm fires in the agrarian state. A thick layer of smog has enveloped Delhi-NCR for the last two days, primarily due to unfavourable meteorological conditions trapping pollutants and raging farm fires in Punjab. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) reviewed the implementation of measures to restrict the farm fire count in Punjab at a meeting with its chief secretary and deputy commissioners of 22 districts, barring Pathankot (no farm fire incidents were reported there). A statement said the primary focus of the review meeting was to reiterate the need to intensify action to check the sudden spike in the number of stubble burning cases seen in the last few days. "The chief secretary and deputy commissioners were reminded of their earlier commitments of drastically bringing down the farm fire count

Diwali beginning of air pollution season, worst may be ahead: CPCB data

Diwali is the start of the air pollution season in the states in the Indo-Gangetic Plain, and the worst of the season may be ahead of us, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board's Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station. According to the analysis by National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) Tracker, average PM 2.5 levels in October this year were higher as compared to 2021 in the capital cities of Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow and Patna. The PM2.5 levels in October 2022 have surpassed those in October 2021, despite delayed withdrawal of monsoon and a comparatively cleaner Diwali over the last five years. The rains also delayed the stubble burning season this year, the NCAP Tracker analysis said. "The PM 2.5 levels for October 2022 in Delhi and Patna remained above (Central Pollution Control Board) CPCB's daily safe limits of 60 micrograms per cubic metre. Delhi recorded an average PM 2.5 of 105 micrograms per cubic metre in October as opposed to 74.88 micrograms

Punjab sees 12.59% rise in stubble burning incidents in last 50 days: ICAR

The number of paddy stubble burning incidents in Punjab rose 12.59 per cent year-on-year to 26,583 in the last 50 days, with a spurt in such cases after Diwali, according to the latest ICAR data. However, when compared to Punjab, the number of paddy stubble burning events in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi remained lower between September 15 and November 4 this year, the data showed. On Friday alone, a total of 2,945 stubble-burning events were detected in six states, out of which a maximum of 2,437 incidents were in Punjab, followed by Madhya Pradesh (348), Haryana (63), Uttar Pradesh (61), Rajasthan (34) and Delhi (2). Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the country's premier agriculture research institute under the aegis of the Agriculture Ministry, has come out with a bulletin based on the inputs from the three remote sensing satellites -- Suomi NPP, Terra and Aqua -- at the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC). Stubble burning in Delhi'

GRAP IV: Delhi govt bans entry of trucks to monitor air pollution, says Rai

A special task force will be formed for the hotspots, while a total of 33 teams have also been formed to monitor industrial pollution

Delhi LG urges Punjab CM to take urgent measures to curb stubble burning

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has urged Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to take "urgent and substantive" measures to control stubble burning in the state that has converted the national capital "into a gas chamber". In response, Mann accused Saxena of stopping the work of Delhi's elected government and said the Lieutenant Governor was politicising the issue. In a communication to Mann, Saxena said it was "baffling" that instead of addressing the issue at hand, "certain elements are indulging in unjustifiable blame games and excuses and trying to shirk responsibilities, even in the face of a serious crisis situation". Saxena said, on behalf of Delhi and its residents, he was urging Mann to galvanise all available resources and machinery to make the farmers become willing partners in defeating the "repetitive menace". "...request you to undertake urgent and substantive measures to control Parali burning in Punjab that has converted the National Capital once again into a gas