Delhi NCR Air Pollution Update: The capital city of India, Delhi, is enveloped in a shroud of smog, with the air quality reaching severe levels, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Several areas in Delhi experienced thick haze in the morning. It seems that there will be no relief from pollution in Delhi until Thursday. Additionally, the Odd-Even scheme is being implemented.
Delhi has turned into a gas chamber, causing great discomfort to its residents. Despite hopes for respite before Diwali, the air quality remains severe, as stated by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Many areas in the city are covered by a blanket of smog in the morning, leaving people waiting for favorable weather conditions. On the other hand, the government is planning measures to make Delhi pollution-free and is implementing the Odd-Even scheme.
Presently, many areas in Delhi NCR continue to have air pollution in the range of 400 to 500 on the air quality index. PM2.5 levels in some areas have exceeded 500, which is considered hazardous. Monitoring agencies have classified this situation as “severe.”
On Monday, Delhi witnessed an AQI (Air Quality Index) of 421, indicating extremely high pollution levels. However, there was a marginal improvement of 33 points compared to the previous day. The situation remained bleak, and smog continued to blanket the city. The same condition is expected to persist until Thursday. Greater Noida, after Delhi, experienced even more polluted air in the NCR region. Delhi is currently in the fourth phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
Delhi’s Most Polluted Areas: On Monday, Delhi recorded “severe” air quality in 24 areas, whereas on Sunday, four areas showed an improvement. Five areas had extremely poor air quality, with Jahangirpuri at 458, Wazirpur at 455, Paharganj at 453, Punjabi Bagh at 450, and RK Puram at 447 on the AQI scale. In many areas, PM2.5 levels have crossed the hazardous level of 500. Meteorological experts suggest that the pollution elements are not dispersing due to the current weather conditions. Therefore, Delhi residents will have to wait for favorable weather conditions for any improvement.
Implementing Odd-Even Scheme: To deal with the emergency situation, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal convened a high-level meeting in the Secretariat on Monday, which was attended by Minister Gopal Rai. Delhi’s Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, announced that the Odd-Even scheme would be implemented in Delhi. This scheme will be in effect from November 13 to 20. The Odd-Even traffic rules allow vehicles with registration numbers ending in odd digits to ply on odd days of the week, and those ending in even digits on even days. Additionally, on Sundays, all vehicles were allowed to move freely to address the issue of noise pollution.
Therefore, the residents of Delhi will have to wait for favorable weather conditions to get relief from the ongoing air pollution crisis. The current weather conditions are exacerbating the pollution problem, and efforts to address the situation are being undertaken, including the implementation of the Odd-Even scheme.
