Page 5 - Air Pollution In India

Combating air pollution with artificial rain: Cloud seeding explained

The Delhi govt has announced it would initiate cloud seeding to tackle air pollution in the national capital

Smog towers no solution; Centre not in favour of more giant air purifiers

Punjab told to immediately announce incentive scheme on lines of Haryana to encourage farmers to shift from paddy, manage stubble

Delhi govt announces early winter break for schools amid severe AQI

The AQI level is still poor in Delhi NCR, the Delhi education minister announced early winter break and instructed students and teachers to stay at home

Air pollution: BMC takes action against gold and silver smelting units

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has demolished four chimneys of gold and silver smelting units in Kalbadevi and Zaveri Bazar area in South Mumbai amid worsening air pollution in the city, officials said on Wednesday. According to BMC officials, their C-ward took action against the units as they were compounding the air pollution in the metropolis. Mumbai's average air quality index (AQI) stood at around 150, or "moderate", on Wednesday, according to official data. As part of the business of making ornaments and allied activities, gold and silver are melted in smelting units, which are mostly small-scale factories. While the precious metals are melted in a furnace, gaseous byproducts are released into the air through chimneys, civic officials said. However, when such fumes are released without scientific treatment, they pose a threat to human health, they said. As these hazardous gases add to the city's pollution, BMC has initiated a drive against those violating the air ...

Maha air pollution crisis: CM Shinde calls for united efforts to curb issue

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday said his government is making all efforts to curb rising pollution in Maharashtra and appealed for united efforts to make it happen. Speaking at a function after administering the pledge of 'pollution-free Diwali' to schoolchildren at Mantralaya, the state secretariat, Shinde said rising pollution levels have become a cause for global concern. The state government has focused on planting trees. Environment awareness campaigns are being conducted through Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and subsidies are being given for bamboo plantation, he said. Shinde said if children can make up their minds to celebrate a pollution-free Diwali, their parents will follow the same path. The CM's appeal comes at a time when Mumbai is witnessing rising air pollution levels. To control air pollution in Mumbai, the civic body has served notices to more than 100 contractors and real estate firms engaged in executing private and government projects, asking them to adhere

Air pollution: Physical classes up to 9 suspended in Noida till Nov 10

Physical classes up to class 9 will remain suspended in schools across Noida and Greater Noida till November 10 due to the poor air quality, the district administration ordered on Tuesday. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has implemented Graded Responses Action Plan Stage-IV with the air quality index (AQI) in Delhi-NCR breaching the severe category with 400+ AQI, District Magistrate Manish Kumar Verma said. "In view of the above order, all schools of the district Gautam Buddh Nagar are directed to follow the implementation of the GRAP stage-IV order by discontinuing physical classes from pre-school to class 9 up to November 10 and conduct lessons in an online mode," Verma said in the order.

Images show Indo-Gangetic Plains enveloped in smoky haze due to poor AQ

An air quality crisis gripped the Indo-Gangetic plains from Amritsar in Punjab to Purnia in West Bengal on Monday, causing inconvenience to approximately 40 per cent of the country's population residing in the region. Satellite images showed a layer of smoky haze blanketing the entire IGP region. Sri Ganganagar (AQI -- 310), Churu (308), Bharatpur (319), Bhiwadi (433), Dholpur (357), and Hanumangarh in Rajasthan; Faridabad (412), Fatehabad (422), Jind (381), Hisar (377), Bhiwani (335), Sonipat (417), and Gurugram (373) in Haryana recorded hazardous air quality on Monday. The air quality in Punjab, where a large number of farmers burn stubble in a bid to quickly prepare their fields for the next crop, was equally poor. Amritsar (316), Bhatinda (288), Jalandhar (222), Khanna (225), Ludhiana (282), and Mandi Gobindgarh (256) in the state recorded poor to very poor air quality. Ghaziabad (391), Greater Noida (420), Meerut (354), Bulandshahr (243), Hapur (332), Lucknow (251), Muzaffarna

Several resident welfare associations criticise odd-even scheme in Delhi

Several resident welfare associations in Delhi on Monday criticised the state government's decision to re-introduce the odd-even rule, while many others called for a complete lockdown to combat the rising air pollution. A network of 2500 RWAs, URJA, called the move a "political gimmick" and said that it does not have a bearing on improving the pollution. "The odd-even scheme is a political gimmick by the state government which has failed in introducing actionable solutions to this serious issue of pollution in Delhi. We are not happy with this decision," Atul Goel, president, United Residents Joint Action (URJA), said. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Monday announced that the odd-even car rationing scheme will be enforced in the city post Diwali from November 13 to 20 to control air pollution. A decision on extension of the odd-even scheme will be taken after November 20. The RWA in north Delhi expressed displeasure over the initiatives taken by the Delhi government to dea

Delhi schools to suspend physical classes till Nov 10 amidst high pollution

All schools in Delhi have been directed to suspend physical classes, barring classes 10 and 12, until November 10 in view of rising pollution levels, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai announced on Monday. Pollution levels in Delhi-NCR on Monday morning were recorded around seven to eight times above the government-prescribed safe limit, as a toxic haze persisted over the region for the seventh consecutive day. On Sunday, Delhi Education Minister Atishi had announced closure of primary classes of all schools until November 10 and said schools have the option of teaching online for classes 6 to 12. However, all government and private schools opted to hold physical classes for classes 6 to 12. The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI), recorded at 4 pm every day, worsened from 415 on Saturday to 454 on Sunday, prompting the Centre to implement all emergency measures mandated under the final Stage IV of its air pollution control plan called the Graded Response Action Plan ...

World Cup: In touch with medical panel - Sri Lanka on Delhi air pollution

As uncertainty surrounds their World Cup match against Bangladesh owing to the toxic air condition here, Sri Lankan cricket team manager Mahinda Halangoda said on Sunday that they are in touch with a medical panel and will abide by the decision of International Cricket Council (ICC) with regards to the game on Monday. Halangoda, however, clarified that Sri Lanka have not pleaded with the ICC for a change of venue for Monday's match. "We are constantly in touch with our medical panel back in Sri Lanka. Actually, the professor who is in charge is already in India. He had come for a conference and we are in touch with him through the team doctor. "Definitely we will be looking at the index. But obviously, we will be guided by the ICC and I think they have a medical panel here and, so, they will be giving us instructions. "Today when we came, we were told to wear masks. But it depends on what the outside index is, and then we'll make a call on it," said Halangonda. The Lankan team was

As air pollution turns 'severe', GRAP Stage 4 implemented in Delhi-NCR

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Sunday decided to invoke Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the entire National Capital Region (NCR) with immediate effect to prevent further deterioration of air quality.The Air Quality Commission said that Stage IV will be implemented in addition to the restrictions placed under Stage I to III."Keeping in view the prevailing trend of air quality and in an effort to prevent further deterioration of air quality in the region, the Sub-Committee today has taken the call to invoke all actions as envisaged under Stage-IV of GRAP 'Severe+' Air Quality (Delhi's AQI > 450), with immediate effect in the entire NCR. This is in addition to the preventive and restrictive actions mentioned under Stage 1, Stage II, and Stage III of GRAP," an official notification issued by CAQM read.According to the 8-point action plan, there will be a ban on entry of truck traffic into Delhi (except for trucks carrying essential ...

Air pollution leads to anxiety, decrement of cognitive ability: Doctors

As severely-polluted air has choked Delhi, doctors in the city have warned people, saying air pollution affects not just the lungs, but also other major organs, such as the heart and the brain, across all age groups. There has been a sudden increase in cases of headache, anxiety, irritation, confusion and decrement of cognitive abilities, especially among the vulnerable populations such as the elderly, schoolgoing children and pregnant women, Dr Neeraj Gupta, head of the pulmonary medicine department at the Safdarjung Hospital, told PTI. "Neurocognitive ability is directly linked to rising nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide in the air as they impact the nervous system. "So gas chamber is a technically correct term to be used because of the rise of the concentration of harmful gases and not just particulate matter," he said. Gupta further said a study conducted in North Carolina among schoolgoing children has shown that the Air Quality Index (AQI) has a direct imp

Delhi LG holds meeting on air pollution, departments to issue advisories

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena held a meeting with Environment Minister Gopal Rai amid severe air pollution in the city on Friday, in which a decision was taken to appeal neighbouring states, particularly Punjab, to check paddy stubble burning. The meeting also decided to adopt interim measures such as issuing advisories by the Environment department asking people, especially children and the elderly, to take extra care and remain indoors as far as possible, preparedness by the Health department and optimal use of mechanised road sweepers, water sprinklers and anti-smog guns. The meeting chaired by the LG could not be attended by the chief minister who was out of Delhi, according to a Raj Niwas statement. After the meeting, Rai told reporters that he urged the LG for issuing directions to senior officers to not "boycott" the government and attend meetings and remain cooperative and active for implementation of the decisions on the ground. "I also urged for action against the

Construction ban: Credai asks members to take anti-pollution measures

Amid a ban on non-essential construction in Delhi-NCR due to pollution, real estate developers' body Naredco on Friday extended support to the government but flagged concerns over delay in completing projects while builders' association Credai asked members to take anti-pollution measures at sites. Naredco National President G Hari Babu said pollution concerns everyone and conscious corporate, real estate developers are actively taking measures to curb the menace. The fraternity is with the government in fighting this menace, he said. "But we should understand that stopping construction for one month delays the project by at least three months. Besides, it also impacts livelihood. Since the sector is one of the largest employers of unskilled labour in the country, the ramifications are huge," Babu said in a statement. "Further, the developers also have obligations to financial institutions and to its customers for timely delivery, which, in case of delay leads to extra monetary bur

MPCB asks Tata Power to halve particulate matter emissions at plant

Tata Power on Friday said the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has requested it to halve the particulate matter emissions from its generating unit here to help curb pollution. "MPCB has asked Tata Power to explore the feasibility of reducing the particulate matter from the stack from the present permissible 100 Mg/Nm3 to a more benign 50 Mg/Nm3," a spokesperson for the power utility said. Tata Power said Thursday's news reports about it being asked to halve production to help reduce pollution are "factually incorrect". Mumbai is witnessing very high air pollution despite its inherent advantage of being a coastal city. Experts have blamed the infrastructure and construction building activity and poor enforcement of regulations designed to curb pollution for the situation.

World Cup 2023: Rohit Sharma wants kids to live without fear of pollution

The unease in his voice was palpable as India skipper Rohit Sharma on Wednesday expressed deep concern about the vitiated air quality in Indian cities, saying the current situation is not ideal and it is important that future generations "get to live without fear". As is the scenario every winter, a deadly mix of fog and smoke has adversely affected Mumbai and Delhi -- the cities hosting World Cup matches. There are several factors contributing to the worsening air quality and BCCI swinging to action has announced that it won't allow display of fireworks during the remaining World Cup games in Delhi and Mumbai. "In an ideal world you do not want a situation like this but I am pretty sure that the concerned people are taking the necessary steps to avoid this kind of situation. It is not ideal and everyone knows that," Rohit said on the eve of the match against Sri Lanka in the financial capital of the country. Rohit, who has a five-year-old daughter, said the future generations dese

Mumbai govt identifies 6 technological measures to curb air pollution

Fitting vehicle-mounted air filters on 350 BEST buses, setting up virtual chimneys at traffic congestion spots, placing special streetlights and installing air purification systems in select gardens are some of the technological measures being identified to control air pollution in Mumbai. Among other measures and actions, the city civic body has ordered 30 vehicles mounted with sprinklers, also called fog cannons, while notices have been served to readymix concrete units, and industries have been directed to increase the height of chimneys, said Mumbai district guardian minister Deepak Kesarkar. He said there won't be a ban on bursting crackers but citizens should use their discretion and burst fewer crackers. "IIT (Bombay) has identified various companies and technology offered by them is used on a trial basis in Mumbai. The technology which proves effective in reducing pollution will be given priority. We have identified six technologies, including vehicles-mounted air filters,"

Delhi's air quality in October worst since 2020 due to lack of rainfall

Delhi's air quality in October this year was the worst since 2020 with meteorologists attributing it to the lack of rainfall. The capital recorded an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 210 this October, compared to 210 in October last year and 173 in October 2021, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. Delhi saw just one rainy day (5.4 mm of precipitation) in October 2023, in contrast to six in October 2022 (129 mm) and seven in October 2021 (123 mm). The Centre's Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said the average wind speed during October 2023 was relatively low and spells of absolutely "still" conditions were also observed during the month. According to CPCB data, the capital did not record even a single day with 'good' air quality, whereas there were two such days in 2022 and one in 2021. The CAQM, however, reported that Delhi registered an AQI of 172 from January 1 to October 31 this year, the second-best for the corresponding period in six years.

NDMC deploys anti-smog guns, sweeping machines to curb winter air pollution

As the city weather takes a turn, the NDMC has deployed mechanical road sweepers and hired eight anti-smog guns in a slew of measures to control pollution. New Delhi Municipal Council Vice Chairperson Satish Upadhyay on Saturday announced a comprehensive set of "Air Pollution Control" measures for 2023-24. "We recognise the urgent need to prioritize environmental well-being as air pollution, a significant contributor to respiratory diseases, heart conditions, and cancer, demands our collective attention," Upadhyay said ahead of the festival season. He said currently there are no dust hot spots in the NDMC area. The NDMC has deployed seven mechanical road sweepers, operating in two shifts with GPS tracking and wet sweeping. In all, these machines have covered a sweeping distance of 280-330 kilometers between April 1 and October 26, said the NDMC. All avenue roads are mechanically cleaned every day or on alternate days, under real-time monitoring done at the Smart City Integrated ..

Explained: What is GRAP, and how does it combat air pollution in Delhi NCR

Here is a closer look at Delhi's Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), what it entails, and measures citizens can take to help improve air quality in the national capital