Delhiites Have Given Up On Right To Breathe

‘Delhiites Have Given Up On Right To Breathe; And Govts Couldn’t Care Less’

Charanjeet Singh, a resident of New Delhi, narrates how he shifts base to Nodia every year during the October–January period as Capital AQI keeps worsening. His views:

I came to Delhi about 20 years ago in search for bread & butter and since then, I have been living in the national capital. However, for the past few years (about eight to 10 years), things are constantly getting worse and none of the corrective or preventive measures (both visible and claimed) taken by the government brings any relief. Name a thing – air, water, river etc, every resource is deteriorating at a dangerous pace and Delhi has literally transformed into a gas chamber, especially between October and January.

The situation during the rest of the year is also not very pleasant or commendable, but with the onset of winters, it becomes literally impossible, especially for aged persons and those with any kind of respiratory or chronic ailment, to breathe. Living in one of the most polluted cities of the world, Delhi, silently or boastingly, takes a toll on each and every of its citizens round the year and it intensifies during this period.

All government schemes like odd–even formula, traffic signal on car off, etc., fall flat on its face every year while the two smog towers are dysfunctional till date as against the claims of the MCD. Apart from this, every mechanical unit has a capacity after which it exhausts its potential and things are back to square one. I think the people of Delhi have made the situation a part and parcel of their lives and have, in a way, adapted to it just for the sake of earning a livelihood. If you want to survive, you need to get out of your house and face the adversities or remain indoors as much as you can if you don’t need to go out to earn money. That’s it!

ALSO READ: ‘How To Create A Safe Air Haven Indoors In Delhi’

Leaving behind air, the quality and quantity of water has also become a major concern. Most of the densely populated areas of Delhi face this problem throughout the year and arranging for at least drinking water has also added up in the day to day itinerary. I would also like to point out the situation of river Yamuna which is, on the records, the life line of Delhi.

Last year I happened to go to the banks of the river along with my friend and his mother who are from Bihar for the celebration of Chath. It was nearly impossible to stand there because of the stink and when my friend’s mother came out of the river after performing the Pooja, her Saari was full of filth and oil. How is one supposed to drink this water even if it is being treated before reaching our houses?

As a citizen of Delhi, this is absolutely disgraceful. The Delhi government is like paper tigers – very progressive in terms of policies but there is no political will and zero implementation. People are getting aware – usage of masks is visibly increased, people avoiding going out without work (even on weekends), etc. but for many, there has been no hiding from this poisonous smog. Most people like us, who have the option to shift out of Delhi during this period without hampering their work, are doing so but this is not the solution and the end of it. It is also a fact that a change of government cannot improve things drastically but positive steps need to be taken to save Delhi and its people.

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As told to Rajat Rai

How To Create a Safe Air Haven Indoors

Here’s How A Delhi-NCR Resident Can Create a Safe Air Haven Indoors

Dr Sachet Dawar, Faculty of Medical Respiratory of Noida International Institute of Medical Sciences College, NIIMS, shares tips to improve indoor air quality as Delhi’s AQI worsens:

Delhi has been grappling with the issue of poor air quality for years, especially in the winter months when the situation worsens due to several factors: crop burning in neighbouring states, industrial emissions, construction dust, and vehicle pollution. Recently, I have noticed that Delhi’s (Air Quality Index) AQI is hitting hazardous levels day by day which is causing certain health conditions including breathing issues, eye irritation, and wheezing among the residents from the prolonged exposure to the toxic air.

To improve indoor air quality and minimise the negative impact of outdoor pollution, residents can take several essential and effective measures

Here’s what I have found effective:

Installation of Air Purifiers: The installation of air purifiers with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) effectively filters out pollutants, allergens, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Installing air purifiers in high-use areas such as the living room and bedroom is one of the most beneficial ways to improve the air quality inside the house.

Close Windows and Doors During High AQI Hours: Fresh and clean air ventilation is generally recommended in indoor spaces to avoid suffocation. Avoid opening windows in the early morning and evening as these are the high AQI hours. The ideal time for clean circulation can be the time when air quality is less toxic.

ALSO READ: ‘I Left Delhi To Protect My Family From Chronic Illness’

Reduce Indoor Pollutant Sources: Indoor pollutant sources including smoking, burning candles, or cooking with open flames release harmful pollutants like carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide into the air. These pollutants trigger various health concerns including respiratory issues, sinusitis, and other allergic reactions. Avoiding indoor smoking and artificial fragrances while using electric or induction appliances and minimal-odour cleaning products can be beneficial to maintaining a healthy environment.

Maintain Cleanliness: One of the key contributors to improving air quality indoors is a clean home. It is essential to keep the dust particles and allergens away as they lead to the degradation of air quality inside the home. Vacuuming with a high-efficiency air filter and regular cleaning can be beneficial to prevent dust particles, pollutants, and allergens from settling on the surface.

Include Indoor Plants: Certain plants are known as air purifiers as they can minimise the volatile organic compounds present in the air. Indoor plants including areca palm, aloe vera, spider plant, snake plant, and peace lily improve the air quality indoors by increasing oxygen levels and decreasing carbon dioxide levels.

Establish a “Clean Zone”: It can be a beneficial step to designate an area as a “clear zone” as it can decrease the exposure to toxic air. The ‘clean zone” should be installed with a high-quality air purifier and have a clean atmosphere with fewer allergens and dust particles. Ensure that this area or room is smoke-free.

Maintain Humidity Levels: Cold and dry air maximise the risk of respiratory issues and dry eyes, nose, and throat. To maintain an ideal humidity level, incorporating a humidifier can prevent the associated health implications. Additionally, ensure the regular cleanliness of the humidifier to avoid the growth of certain bacteria and mould.

See, Delhi’s air quality index has been fluctuating constantly, and I believe adopting these strategies can make a difference in minimising the impact of poor air quality in your homes. It’s vital, especially during this pollution crisis, to create a safe, healthy, and toxin-free indoor environment to protect against the health challenges that come with prolonged exposure to hazardous air.

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/

As told to Mamta Sharma

Delhi-NCR Air Is Slow-Poisoning Our Lives

‘Delhi-NCR Air Is Slow-Poisoning Our Lives But We Are Helpless’

Priyanka Gupta, a communication expert and an independent writer, shares her views on the worsening AQI levels in Delhi-NCR as the deadly season returns. Her views:

What is it like living with high pollution levels? Well, for those living in Delhi-NCR it is a nightmare that returns every year during winter months. Being used to it, people now seldom complain about increasing levels of pollution but never deny its impact on their health. There was a time when the morning routine of most Delhiites began with sipping a cup of hot coffee and enjoying early morning fog and conversations (especially in winter) at home but as the city progressed in the last decade, waking up with your smart phone to check the AQI (Air Quality Index) of your surroundings and the region has become the norm.

I never realised that severe pollution levels can actually change someone’s lifestyle until it hit us badly. Training the kids to wear face masks, ensuring availability of a nebuliser, room purifiers, keeping windows and doors closed – was never part of our life. We moved back to Delhi in 2022, after seven years of our work in a two-tier city.

Being Delhiites, we knew that pollution levels in Delhi are high but we never gave any serious thought to it. But as we began settling here, it seemed like a new city with nothing but smog, pollution, haziness and dust all around. The schools requested us to keep kids at home due to severe pollution levels especially during festivals and if we moved out, the kids would come back coughing, itchy eyes and shortness of breath. 

ALOS READ: I Left Delhi To Protect My Family From Chronic Sickness

We were trying to come to terms with it but then I observed that my husband would keep coughing after returning from office. With this came the scary part – he would have sneezing bouts that lasted long and to an extent that his nose would start bleeding. We thought it was some weather change allergy and took some medication. Later when he would travel out of Delhi for work, his sneezing and coughing would be under control without medication. But then, this started happening frequently. On consultation, the physician informed us that his age-old asthma had recurred due to pollution which was also causing sinusitis.

And then we started talking about it. We got to know of so many other people who were having sleepless nights coughing, wheezing, not being able to talk, having trouble climbing stairs, teary eyes, struggling to catch some breath and finding it difficult to manage minor chores in the daily routine. Pollution was playing havoc with our lives. The air we breathe is toxic and hazardous.

Shifting back to another city is neither the choice nor an option. The government will keep passing the buck from farm fires to absence of right policies or lack of mechanisms to control it. Hence, one has to learn to sail through troubled waters. Some small steps can reduce asthma attacks such as wearing a face mask, working out at home especially doing breathing exercises, inhaling steam before sleeping, managing travel time to office (half an hour early before peak hours will be immensely helpful), not missing on carrying an asthma puff and most importantly never hesitating to seek help if required.

Pollution levels in Delhi are not set to come down nor does the issue seem to be resolved but a small step from our end can help us in managing the same. Corporate houses are promoting car pools. The way to live is to go green in whatever way we can.

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As told to Deepa Gupta

Delhi Haze Gives Me Wheezing Breath Inflamed Eyes

‘Delhi Haze Gives Me Wheezing Breath, Inflamed Eyes, Sore Throat’

Sheela Singh, a Delhi resident, expresses her anguish and helplessness over the polluted air and smog that engulfs Delhi every winter. Her story:

As the haze settles back over Delhi, a familiar dread washes over me. I am 69 years old. For as long as I can remember, Delhi has been my home, but these last few years, I feel like the very air that I once breathed so freely has turned against me. From October to January, it’s the worst. The city I love becomes a gas chamber, and I’m left struggling to do something as basic as breathing.

I have had asthma for years, but it is the pollution that has made things unbearable. The moment I step outside, the smog hits me. It’s like someone is squeezing my lungs, making it nearly impossible to breathe. My chest feels heavy, my throat itches, and there’s a constant wheeze in my breath. Even walking a few steps makes me stop to catch my breath. It’s not living—it’s just surviving.

I spend most of my time indoors during these months, but even inside, the air isn’t clean. We close the windows, we run air purifiers, but it’s never enough. The pollution still seeps in. I rely on my inhaler far too often, and it’s frightening to think that this might become the norm for me.

What really scares me, though, is how this isn’t just about me. My granddaughter is only 10 years old, and I worry constantly about what kind of future she will have if things don’t change. She should be outside playing, breathing clean air, but instead, she’s trapped inside with me, unable to enjoy her childhood. What kind of world are we leaving for her? Sometimes I lie awake at night, not just because I can’t breathe, but because I can’t shake the worry for her future.

ALSO READ: I Wish To Visit Delhi For Diwali But Smog Scares Me

The worst part is that every year, the same thing happens. The government talks, and politicians point fingers, but nothing really changes. Every time the air gets worse, we hear about stubble burning or vehicle emissions, but where are the real solutions? Just today, I read a report from the ex-director of AIIMS in Delhi, and what he said made my blood run cold. He said more people might die from air pollution than from COVID-19. Can you imagine? A pandemic that brought the world to its knees, and yet the air we breathe could be even deadlier.

It’s not just Delhi anymore either. The entire NCR region is now choking, and even the areas connected to it are feeling the effects. The smoke from stubble burning travels miles, and every year we face the same problem. There’s so much talk, but where’s the action? Why is nothing being done to fix this? Why are we still trapped in this cycle of blame and inaction?

I’m tired. I’m tired of living like this, constantly worrying about whether today’s air will be too dangerous to breathe. I’m tired of being afraid to step outside. And most of all, I’m tired of watching my granddaughter grow up in a world where clean air is becoming a luxury, not a right.

I remember a time when things weren’t this bad. When Delhi was still a city I could enjoy it without fear. Now, it feels like I’m suffocating in the place I’ve called home for so long. I don’t want to leave, but sometimes I wonder how much longer I can go on like this. How much more can my lungs take?

All I want is for things to change—for my granddaughter to grow up in a world where she can run around outside without worrying about what she’s breathing. But until that happens, I’ll keep fighting this battle with every breath I take, hoping that someday, the haze will finally lift.

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/

As told to Deepti Sharma

I Left Delhi To Save My Family From Chronic Pollution

‘I Left Delhi To Protect My Family From Chronic Pollution Sickness’

Nida Fatima Siddiqui, a media professional, made the tough decision to leave Delhi’s smog behind, seeking cleaner air and a healthier future for her family. She shares her story:

Delhi is in the news again for pollution, and as a former resident of Delhi-NCR, I feel quite relieved that I no longer live there. My husband, daughter and I decided to move to Bangalore in October 2022, and pollution was a major factor in our decision, though there were other considerations too.

Personally, I suffered a lot during the smog months from October to January. While I thankfully don’t have any health or lung issues, I coughed throughout these months every year. Leaving Delhi-NCR was bittersweet because my parents still live there, and for four years, I stayed in the same housing society as them. It was a tough decision. 

Before 2022, I had lived in Delhi for 18 years, and pollution was never a significant issue until 2014. I remember traveling across the city without ever experiencing any respiratory problems. But from 2015 onwards, it became a persistent issue. In late 2016, my office shift in Noida ended around 6.30 pm and I used to travel during peak rush hour in October. That was the first time that I developed bronchitis, which lingered for a month. The cough returned every year after that, in the same month. My daughter was born in February, and in the months leading up to her birth, I had a chronic cough—it was a difficult time.

I realised that it was more than just pollution from cars or construction in Delhi-NCR—the smog crisis was also caused by stubble-burning in neighbouring states. Farmers in Haryana and Punjab burn rice stubble in October because, under a law to conserve water in these states, the crop cycle was shifted. After harvesting paddy, the farmers thus have little time to prepare their fields for the next crop, wheat. With just about three weeks available, they resort to burning stubble to clean the fields fast.

ALSO READ: ‘I’m A Pollution Refugee, Forced To Migrate From Delhi’

I do not see this issue getting resolved anytime soon, even if all the three governments came together to address it. The problem is worsened by traffic pollution, construction activities, weather/wind pattern and firecrackers—the last of these fuel the crisis but only for a short while. It’s the larger issue of multiple factors causing the persistent smog. Moreover, Delhi’s weather is either too hot or too humid, barring the short winter. The autumn months, when you want to enjoy the outdoors, are plagued by pollution, which keeps you inside. That leaves only February and March as months when it’s comfortable to step outside. Being an outdoorsy person, I found myself confined to the house either with an air conditioner or an air purifier.

In 2022, we decided we didn’t want our child to grow up facing the same trauma. I also believe our move was well-timed. It’s easier to relocate when you’re younger and have a small family. It’s sad, though, to leave behind a place you once called home for something as man-made as pollution. Some might say that Bangalore has its own share of problems, like traffic and pollution, but compared to Delhi, it’s much better. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is far superior, and most of the year, Bangalore stays in the green zone. In fact, I haven’t coughed in the past two years, which reassures me that our decision to move was the right one. 

I am also trying to persuade my parents to leave Delhi-NCR and move south, given their age and the escalating pollution crisis. I don’t mean to be blunt for those still living there, including my parents, but I don’t see this pollution issue being resolved anytime soon. It’s going to take a coordinated effort from the governments involved, and that doesn’t seem to be on the horizon.

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/

As told to Mamta Sharma

A Gas Chamber Called Delhi-NCR

Of Life and Living in a Gas Chamber Called Delhi-NCR

It is a mild winter afternoon and I am meeting a friend at the DLF Golf and Country Club, a private members-only club in Gurugram. Widely acknowledged as the best golf course in India and a regular host to international tournaments, it is also a paradise for golf enthusiasts and a symbol of luxury and exclusivity in India. With an annual membership fee of around Rs 7 lakh (USD 8400) or 3.5 times the per capita income in India, it better be a paradise. We are sitting inside one of its glass-encased restaurants and the conversation turned to Delhi’s air pollution.

Through the glass we can barely see the carefully landscaped green lawns, undulating hills, and a manmade lake with a fountain because all of it was covered by a thick blanket of fog. Only, it was not fog but smog, or air that was polluted densely with tiny particulate matter that can get into your lungs when you breathe and lead to serious respiratory and other ailments. It is said that an average resident of Delhi-NCR (National Capital Region) inhales the equivalent of a pack and a half (or 30) cigarettes every day during the worst days of pollution. The worst days are now. And they are ubiquitous. Between October end and January, air pollution levels in the sprawling megalopolis, home to nearly 33 million people, which is about half the population of the UK, routinely turn horrific each year.

Air pollution is not a problem for Delhi and the NCR alone but has come to affect every large and medium sized city in India where construction activity is booming; the number of vehicles on the road is spiraling out of control; and where industrial activity in the form of smoke spewing factories mushroom as zoning restrictions are enforced only leniently. In northern parts of India, such as Delhi and the NCR, the problem is compounded by farmers burning crop stubble to clear the soil for fresh sowings and the smoke from that being swept over the city and its suburbs. 

My friend tells me how all his three cars have air purifiers, which also, of course, are in every room of his sprawling five-bedroom home in a luxury condominium on the edge of the golf course where we are sitting. He coughs frequently, though, and when I ask him whether he wears a mask when he is outdoors, he demurs and doesn’t answer. He is one of India’s privileged class of rich people who lives his charmed life in a bubble but even he doesn’t seem overly concerned about the havoc that the air in the city is wreaking on his body and his health. It is believed that in Delhi and the NCR, pollution may be slashing 10 to 12 years of a person’s life.

As we finish our coffees and prepare to leave, I check the real time Air Quality Index (AQI) on my phone. It is 402. That means the air quality is very very poor and may cause respiratory illness in people on prolonged exposure. It also means that the average concentration of PM 2.5, a harmful pollutant, is 250 micrograms per cubic metre, which is four times the permissible limit. I take out my mask, a N95 that is said to help filter out the dreaded particles–at least a bit–and put it on for the walk to my friend’s car parked about 800 metres from where we are. He doesn’t have a mask and even though he is still coughing a bit, he doesn’t seem to care.

My friend is among the 17,400 dollar millionaires (estimate courtesy Hurun India Wealth Report, 2021) in Delhi and NCR. And as I said, he doesn’t wear a mask when he is outside. Little wonder that very few of the millions of his co-residents in the megalopolis also don’t. Most don’t own and cannot afford air purifiers and millions have to work outdoors all day or live in homes that are just not equipped to prevent the spread of poor air.

This November when air pollution levels in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) reached alarming levels once again, a leading Indian newspaper did a feature titled, “Choosing the right mask for Delhi–your ultimate guide”. It was a timely article, exhaustive and well-researched, and listed different masks and their efficacies in tackling or, rather, lessening the grave consequences of breathing the urban sprawl’s terrible air. I am sure many other media publications have done the same thing: warning people about how bad the air quality is and how important it is to take precautions. They needn’t have. No one wears masks in Delhi or its adjoining areas that make up what is known as NCR.

This winter, Delhi and the NCR’s air quality was the worst in several years. On December 23, in parts of the city the AQI crossed 450. AQI values at or below 100 are generally thought of as satisfactory. When AQI values are above 100, air quality is considered to be unhealthy—at first for certain sensitive groups of people, then for everyone as AQI values increase. In Delhi and the NCR area, AQI levels during the colder months, beginning in November, routinely rise to beyond 400, which is not only unhealthy but hazardous and, for people breathing it over a sustained period, can have life-threatening consequences. 

A decade ago, China’s Beijing (population around 22 million) had a similar problem. Thick smog stubbornly enveloped the city and AQI levels soared. But the Chinese government declared a war against pollution in 2013. In Beijing, a $100-billion plan was actioned, which included clampdowns on factories, a ban on old vehicles, and a decisive move from coal and fossil-fuel sources of energy to natural gas. In 2020, Beijing was reported to have had 288 days of clear skies compared to 176 in 2013 when the war against pollution began.

And in Delhi? In 2021, according to one estimate, there were only 60 satisfactory air days (AQI of 100 or less). Things may have gotten worse since then. And, on the face of it, not much is being done to effectively improve things. 

One of the factors that made the Chinese government combat the pollution problem in its biggest cities was public outrage. Even under an authoritarian regime, people in Beijing and other cities protested publicly when air pollution began reaching hazardous levels. That and the fact that China was eager not to have its international image, particularly among investors, tarnished were what spurred the authorities into action. 

In Indian cities, especially Delhi and the NCR, there has hardly been any public protest. Instead there is a pall of fatalism that seems to be pervasive. On the streets of Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad, and other satellite towns, hardly anyone wears masks. And, while schools were closed briefly, and some offices reverted to Covid-era remote working for their employees, these were stop-gap measures. 

To be sure, the government has rolled out a set of plans. GRAP, which stands for Graded Response Action Plan, is a set of emergency measures that are implemented incrementally when air quality begins to dip in Delhi-NCR in the winter months. GRAP has four stages, depending on the severity of the air pollution: poor, very poor, severe, and severe+. Each stage has different actions to reduce emissions from various sources, such as vehicles, industries, construction, and waste burning. 

Has that helped? The short answer is no. That is because of several factors:

First, there is a lack of coordination and compliance among various agencies and states involved in implementing GRAP. Second, even after GRAP triggers actions such as a ban on construction, waste burning and diesel generators, these are not implemented by local authorities. Third, the response to changing air quality levels is delayed or insufficient. And fourth, there is a lack of a long-term plan to address the root causes of air pollution such as vehicular emissions, industrial activities, crop burning, and meteorological factors.

To be sure, there have been bans on certain categories of vehicles that don’t adhere to emission standards. There have also been some restrictions on factories and smoke-spewing industries in and around the megalopolis but clearly not enough has been done to have a meaningful impact on the quality of air that millions have to breathe.

Soon, India’s political parties will begin their run-up to the parliamentary elections scheduled for next May. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will lead the campaign for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, is keenly expected to win a third term. By February or perhaps March when electioneering will really pick up momentum, the skies will be a bit clearer (read: AQI levels will no longer be hazardous but merely poor) and that would be good enough for everyone to forget about pollution. The issue of bad air quality, which has already become “old news” that is undeserving of highlighting for India’s media publications will by then disappear completely from their news reports; and you can be sure that air pollution will not be an issue that anyone is going to focus on during the high-decibel election campaigning that usually marks India’s polls.

Instead, the citizens of Delhi-NCR (as well as other Indian cities) will fatalistically breathe “poor” or “very poor” air, thankful perhaps that at least it is not hazardous… till the smog rolls in again next November. 

For more details visit us: https://lokmarg.com/

Air Quality In NCR

Delhi Suffers Another ‘Very Poor’ Air Day With 337 AQI

Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded on Tuesday at 337 by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

According to the SAFAR, Delhi’s air quality was recorded in the ‘very poor’ category on Tuesday.
Earlier on Monday, the national capital woke up to smog with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 340 by SAFAR.

The Air Quality Index from 0 to 100 is considered as good, while from 100 to 200 it is moderate, from 200 to 300 it is poor, and from 300 to 400 it is said to be very poor and from 400 to 500 or above it is considered as severe.

Earlier on Sunday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a Union government panel recommending steps to control air pollution in the national capital, announced a temporary ban on construction and demolition activities in Delhi-NCR as part of its Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The announcement came after the air quality in Delhi and the national capital region breached the ‘severe’ category.

The CAQM, which on Sunday chaired a meeting to review the air quality in Delhi-NCR, put out a release saying, “As the AQI in Delhi has slipped into ‘severe’ category, the sub-committee had decided that all actions, as envisaged under Stage III of the GRAP, be implemented in right earnest by all the agencies concerned, with immediate effect in the NCR, in addition to all action under Stage I and Stage II of the GRAP.”

The panel had further observed that the air quality saw a further deterioration over the last 24 hours, with Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 407 on December 4, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

In its order, the CAQM said it temporarily banned construction activities, “with the exception of Metro Rail services, including stations; airport and inter-state bus terminals; railway services/stations; national security/defence-related activities/ projects of national importance; hospitals/healthcare facilities; linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, pipelines; sanitation projects like sewage treatment plants and water supply projects; ancillary activities specific to and supplementing above categories of projects”.

Milk and dairy units and those involved in the manufacturing of life-saving medical equipment, drugs, and medicines, were also exempted from the restrictions stipulated in the CAQM order. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176/

Delhi NCR air quality

Construction, Demolition Banned In Delhi-NCR As AQI Turns Severe

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a Union government panel recommending steps to control air pollution in the national capital, on Sunday announced a temporary ban on construction and demolition activities in Delhi-NCR as part of its Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

The announcement came after the air quality in Delhi and the national capital region worsened again, breaching the ‘severe’ category.
The CAQM, which on Sunday chaired a meeting to review the air quality in Delhi-NCR, put out a release saying, “As the AQI in Delhi has slipped into ‘severe’ category, the sub-committee had decided that all actions, as envisaged under Stage III of the GRAP, be implemented in right earnest by all the agencies concerned, with immediate effect in the NCR, in addition to all action under Stage I and Stage II of the GRAP.”

The panel further observed that the air quality saw a further deterioration over the last 24 hours, with Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 407 on December 4, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

In its order, the CAQM says it temporarily banned construction activities, “with the exception of Metro Rail services, including stations; airport and inter-state bus terminals; railway services/stations; national security/defence-related activities/ projects of national importance; hospitals/healthcare facilities; linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, pipelines; sanitation projects like sewage treatment plants and water supply projects; ancillary activities specific to and supplementing above categories of projects”.

Milk and dairy units and those involved in the manufacturing of life-saving medical equipment, drugs and medicines, were also exempted from the restrictions stipulated in the CAQM order.

An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’ and 401 and 500 ‘severe’. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176/

Air pollution in Delhi-NCR.

SC To Hear On Nov 10 Plea On Worsening Air Pollution In Delhi-NCR

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear on November 10 a plea seeking measures to curb worsening air pollution in Delhi-NCR.

A bench of Chief Justice of India UU Lalit and Bela M Trivedi posted the case for hearing on November 10 after an advocate mentioned the matter for urgent hearing.
Advocate Shashank Shekhar Jha, who filed the plea, told the bench that stubble burning has increased in Punjab.

“Parali burning has increased in Punjab. Even normal people can’t walk in such a situation,” Jha argued.

The plea sought direction to summon Chief Secretaries of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh and directed them to personally take responsibility for no case of stubble burning anywhere.

It sought direction for issuing fresh guidelines to all the States with respect to stubble burning. The plea asked to issue guidelines to each and every State to take necessary measures in order to reduce pollution including the installation of smog towers, plantation drives, affordable public transport, etc.

“Public at large is forced to inhale polluted air and the oxygen filled with smog. Despite the clear orders of this Court to stop stubble burning and construction causing air pollution, there is rampant pollution in the National Capital Territory and other places making it difficult for people to survive,” said the plea adding that the situation is directly against the Right to life of people at large.

The petition said the AQI level on November 3 has been between 440 to 460 across Delhi which as per various sources “affects healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases”.

An AQI of 400 or higher is considered “severe,” and it can affect both healthy people and those who already have illnesses, it said.

It sought direction for appointing a high-level committee under the chairmanship of a retired Supreme Court judge to tackle the air-pollution crisis due to stubble burning.

The plea further urged that the schools, colleges, government, and private offices go virtual/online in order to protect the life of people at large.

The advocate said that the pollution is caused because states like Punjab have failed to provide an alternative to the farmers against stubble burning.to control pollution. (ANI)

Read More: http://13.232.95.176/

NCR Diwali Air Pollution

Diwali, Farm Fires Bring An Annual Breathing Nightmare

Uma Kant Yadav, a 28-year-old entrepreneur in Noida who suffers from asthma, says the air quality of NCR post-Diwali is constantly worsening, causing him respiratory hardships

I belong to Allahabad. A decade back, I shifted to Noida for better opportunities and started a small tourism-based operation from NCR. At the time of my relocation, I had mild asthma. However, with the passage of time as the air quality continued to deteriorate, my condition became severer. Today I cannot take the risk of moving out of my house without an inhaler.

The smog condition after Diwali, when a toxic mix of firecrackers residue and farm fires smoke fills up the air, brings the worst nightmare when I have no place to hide from the thick air. While people enjoy burning crackers and celebrating the festival, I remain locked inside my room praying that people get some wisdom and empathy to feel the pain of people like us.

In those times, I can compare my situation literally with a stray dog running from pillar to post on the roads, trying to run away from the loud burst of crackers, but in vain. Indoors, I suffer from similar anxious moments and breathing difficulties.

I know about the suffering caused by Covid-19, but for me the lockdown period brought much-need relief. The air was clean, vehicular pollution was nil and November smog at a minimum. But this year the air quality is worse than the pre-Covid levels, and my worst fears are back: that conditions will only get worse from here each passing year.

I have been advised to – and I also try to – go to Allahabad during this period. But, ironically, this is the time when I get a lot of business as travel demands are at peak due to Diwali and Chhat Puja season. For me it is like choosing between a rock and a hard place; a choice between livelihood and health. This is a tough call for a middle class entrepreneur.

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The ban (imposed by the AAP government on firecrackers in Delhi) is of little effect as you cannot impose a guard in every nook and corner of the huge capital. Besides, I feel the government itself is not keen on implementing the order and one could see the open sale and use of firecrackers all over Delhi ahead of Diwali. I also feel some law-fearing citizens of Delhi move to NCR areas outside the Capital to burst crackers, adding to the woes of people like us.

The seasonal stubble burning by farmers in Punjab and Haryana, and the winds blowing eastward, caused double misery in the same period. This year, despite the AAP government in both Delhi and Punjab, there has been no improvement in the situation; air pollution has only gone worse as the AQI parameters tell us routinely.

I feel the government is also helpless as until and unless we have a responsible and emphatic society, restrictions or penal provision are of no use. If we want to provide and promise a better world for our future generations to live in, people have to rise up and take a stand today. Otherwise, this beautiful planet will become hell by the time we leave it and our children will curse us for that.

As told to Rajat Rai