Delhi’s Air Quality Worsens, Enters ‘Red Zone’ as Winter Approaches

With the approaching winter, the air quality of Delhi-NCR has started deteriorating and the Air Quality Index (AQI) is touching ‘poor’ levels. People witnessed smog in many parts of the NCR, including Ghaziabad, where the AQI was recorded at 246 on Thursday morning.

The AQI is categorised as good when it is between 00 and 50, satisfactory between 51 and 100, moderate between 101 and 200, poor between 201 and 300, very poor between 301 and 400, and severe between 401 and 500.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), AQI of Delhi-NCR is being constantly recorded in the poor category. The AQI of Anand Vihar has remained over 400 for the past two consecutive days, which falls in severe category. CPCB also warns of poor air quality in the national capital for the next two days.

Citing the air pollution levels in the capital, the Delhi government has implemented the rules of Grape-1 from Monday evening. 116 teams will be deployed for the day and 116 teams for the night to prevent burning of garbage in the open, Chief Minister Atishi said in a press conference.

The Supreme Court slammed the Haryana government for non-compliance with its earlier orders regarding rising air pollution levels and also warned of contempt proceedings against the Chief Secretary of Haryana. The court also questioned the state for not prosecuting people for stubble burning and letting go people with nominal fines even after ISRO is giving fire locations to the state.

“We see that the affidavit by Haryana is full of non-compliances. We direct the Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM) to take penal actions against state officers under Section 14, the court said. Also directed chief secretary Prasad to be physically present next Wednesday to explain why no stringent action was taken against violators and government officials.

The Supreme Court also said that CAQM has become a toothless tiger over its failure to curb air pollution in Delhi due to crop residue burning in the neighbouring states and suggested it to be more active in its approach.