'Very Poor' air quality in Delhi-NCR; SC bans old petrol, diesel vehicles

According to a WHO report, over one 100,000 children under five years of age died in India in 2016 due to exposure to toxic air

Delhi and NCR's air quality continued to remain in the "Very Poor" category on Tuesday as the overall AQI was recorded at 375 and 330 respectively at 6 AM, according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

In Delhi, the overall PM2.5 (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) was recorded at 217. The PM2.5, also called "fine particulates," can be a matter of more serious health concern than PM10.

The PM10 level (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 10 micrometres) in Delhi stood at 347, as per SAFAR.

An AQI of 0-100 is considered 'Good+Satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor' and 401 to 500 'severe', as per SAFAR.

Twenty-nine monitoring stations located in different parts of the city recorded very poor air quality while four stations recorded severe air quality.

Here are the pollution figures from different corners of the city

Place	PM2.5	PM 10
Gurugram	296	N/A
Dwarka	307	N/A
Noida	323	560
Anand Vihar	330	674
Faridabad	159	134

 

Meanwhile, terming as "very critical" and "horrible" the prevailing pollution situation in Delhi-NCR, the Supreme Court on Monday prohibited the plying of 15-year-old petrol and 10-year-old diesel vehicles in the national capital region.

The CPCB-led task force has recommended avoiding outdoor exercises between November 1 and November 10, as the air is expected to turn toxic in the coming days in the national capital.

It also recommended stringent measures, including minimisation of private vehicles and shutdown of coal and biomass industries to deal with the alarming increase of pollution in the national capital

According to a WHO report, over one lakh children under five years of age died in India in 2016 due to exposure to toxic air.

Another report by Greenpeace also presented a grim picture of India's pollution level.

According to the report, three of the world's largest nitrogen oxide air pollution emission hotspots, which contribute to the formation of PM2.5 and ozone, were in India, with one in Delhi NCR region.

Delhi-NCR, Sonbhadra in Uttar Pradesh and Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh and Talcher-Angul in Odisha were the hotspots identified. Sonbhadra in Uttar Pradesh and Singrauli in Madhya Pradesh had one hotspot.

Authorities asked 113 industries to shut down for not converting to Piped Natural Gas (PNG). Of the total units, 67 are located in Bawana and Narela industrial areas, an official statement said on Monday.

In a meeting chaired by Lt Governor Anil Baijal, officials said 1,368 show cause notices and 417 closure directions were issued against polluting units by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).

According to SAFAR, pollution is likely to increase to the upper levels of very poor but will not touch "severe" level, at least for one or two days more.

"This is owing to stagnation conditions forced by calm winds with low ventilation and moderate stubble injection," according to the SAFAR.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) agreed to the recommendations made by the CPCB for the first ten days of November when the air quality is likely to deteriorate further due to festival season and stubble burning in neighbouring states.

The recommendations included the closure of all construction activities that generate dust pollution between November 1 and 10.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)-led task force also recommended shutting down of coal and biomass-based industries, excluding thermal and waste-to-energy plants, from November 4 to 10, intensification of efforts by Transport Department to check polluting vehicles and controlling traffic congestion in Delhi-NCR between November 1 and 10.

SAFAR also issued a health advisory due to increased pollution level in Delhi, urging people with heart or lung disease, older adults and children to avoid prolonged or heavy exertion.

It also recommended people to go for shorter walks instead of jogs, keeping windows closed and wearing masks while stepping outside.

Here are the pollution figures from different corners of the city