Delhi's air quality reaches poor mark, CM Arvind Kejriwal asks citizens to brace for impact
As the Air Quality Index (AQI) showed increased levels of pollution in parts Delhi-NCR, Arvind Kejriwal released a statement sounding an alarm to the people to brace themselves for the upcoming months.
In Short
- The AQI remained above 200 in several parts of Delhi and adjoining areas on Sunday
- Vasundhra area of Ghaziabad recorded highest AQI at 465
- Latest satellite images from Nasa show increasing fire incidents in North-western India
The stubble-burning season is back, and so is Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with warning the people of the national capital and adjoining areas to be prepared.
As the Air Quality Index (AQI) showed increased levels of pollution in parts Delhi-NCR, Arvind Kejriwal released a statement sounding an alarm to the people to brace themselves for the upcoming months.
The AQI remained above 200 in several parts of Delhi and adjoining areas on Sunday with the maximum, 465, touching at Vasundhra area of Ghaziabad. The AQI above 300 is considered 'Hazardous'.
The AQI near ITI Jahangirpuri in Delhi was 373, while Sector 62 of Noida reflected an AQI of 316. Anand Vihar, which is quite infamous for having the highest levels of AQI, was relatively low at 278.
Latest images from US space agency Nasa show quite a few numbers of fire incidents occurring in the North-western region of India and adjoining regions in Pakistan. They are likely due to crop burning in the area and will bring pollution to different parts of India, including Delhi-NCR.
While Haryana has recorded 481 cases of crop residue burning till October 11 against 547 in the corresponding period last year -- a decrease of 12 per cent, Punjab has reported an increase of 195 cases -- from 435 in 2018 to 630 in 2019.
The national capital's air quality remained "poor" for the third day on the trot on Saturday. Pollution levels will move towards "very poor" by the third week of October, according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).
SAFAR said the AQI is still much better than the last few years in this time of the year, partly due to enough widespread moisture with relatively warmer temperatures around the surrounding areas of Delhi.
"Delhi's air quality was recorded in the 'satisfactory' category till October 2 and in the 'moderate' category till October 9. It turned poor for the first time in the season on Thursday.
SAFAR said the increased biomass fire counts in Haryana and Panjab are likely to influence Delhi's AQI now.
"The surface wind speed continues to be slow and variable with predominant direction from the West. Under these conditions, air quality is predicted to deteriorate to the middle of the poor category by Sunday. Further deterioration of the AQI is expected by October 14," it said.
The air pollution level majorly remained between 'Good' to 'Moderate' for three months between July and September.
Be prepared, Kejriwal tells Delhi
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said that the air quality in Delhi has started deteriorating from Good to Moderate to Poor to Very Poor slowly, and said stubble burning in Karnal was the reason behind it.
"The smoke from crop stubble burning in neighbouring states has started reaching Delhi and our air quality has started deteriorating from Good to Moderate to Poor to Very Poor. It has been widely reported that the smoke coming to Delhi today is due to the burning of stubble in Karnal, Haryana," Arvind Kejriwal said
"This is not just a question of the air quality in Delhi. Perhaps the largest health impacts of the stubble burning will be faced by the residents of Karnal and other parts of Haryana. Delhi gets the most attention because it has more media, it has the Central government," Kejriwal added.
Starting October 15, stricter measures to fight air pollution will come into force in Delhi and its neighbourhood as part of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which was first implemented in Delhi-NCR in 2017.
Can't blame farmers
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo also said that the blame for the deteriorating air quality cannot be put on the farmers as they have to prepare for the next season.
"Farmers cannot be blamed for burning their stubble because they need to prepare for the next crop cycle. It is the responsibility of governments to provide the technology that is now easily available to the farmers. I appeal to the concerned governments to help the farmers. The Centre will have to take the lead on this. Efforts by individuals cannot succeed. I am not interested in pointing fingers at this point in time when people are suffering," Arvind Kejriwal said.
Kejriwal thanks PM Modi
Arvind Kejriwal also thanked the Modi government and said mentioned that Delhi's pollution has only reduced due to "collective efforts".
"Pollution is a complex problem and could only have reduced due to the collective efforts of all governments and agencies in Delhi. Everyone made their efforts, but the most important contribution was made by the people of Delhi," Kejriwal said.
"I have always maintained that no effort to tackle climate change or pollution until the people enthusiastically participate in these efforts. The people of Delhi have participated in all efforts and even welcomes certain harsh steps we took against pollution," he added.