Delhi air quality warning as pollution worsens
Air quality in the Indian capital Delhi has reached severe and extremely poor levels over the past few days. The data has revealed that pollution levels reached 25-30 times the World Health Organization (WHO)’s recommended safe limit at various places throughout the city.
Experts warned that the situation will worsen due to weather conditions as well as the use of firecrackers during the Diwali festival, and the burning of crop remains in neighbouring areas.
Delhi is one of several cities in the north of India that has reported extreme levels of air pollution between October and January every year. This has caused disruption to businesses as well as the shutting down of schools and offices.
The levels of tiny particulate matter (PM 2.5) reached as high as 350 micrograms per cubic metre in some areas, data from the government-run Safar website has found. Anything from 300 to 400 micrograms per cubic metre is considered very poor while 400-500 is considered severe. The particulate can enter deep into the lungs and cause a number of diseases.
Delhi is enveloped in a thick blanket of smog every winter as a result of smoke, dust, low wind speed, vehicular emissions, and crop stubble burning.
In November and December, farmers from the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana burn crop stubble in an attempt to clear their fields. Farming groups say that they need financial and technical help if they are to find an alternative way to clear their fields. But government schemes so far have not been effective.
Smoke from firecrackers during the Diwali celebrations are also adding to the problem. The Delhi government has announced a complete ban on the manufacture, storage, and sale fo fireworks ahead of the festival later this week.
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