Page 14 - Air Pollution

Delhi gears up for first cloud seeding experiment to fight air pollution

The experiment, in collaboration with IIT Kanpur and the IMD, aims to trigger artificial rainfall and curb worsening air pollution as the capital braces for its peak winter smog season

122 stubble burning incidents on Sunday mark highest single-day spike

Punjab witnessed 743 stubble burning incidents from September 15 till October 26, with 122 cases on Sunday marking the highest single-day spike this season, official data showed. Tarn Taran and Amritsar districts contributed the bulk of cases, according to Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) data, as many farmers continued to disregard the state government's appeal to stop crop residue burning. The state has seen a sharp jump in stubble-burning cases in the past week, from 353 cases recorded till October 20 to 390, the data showed. According to the data, the highest farm fire incidents were reported from Tarn Taran at 224, followed by Amritsar 154, Ferozepur 80, Sangrur 47, Patiala 39, Gurdaspur 38, and Kapurthala 29. Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is often blamed for the rise in air pollution in Delhi-NCR. As the window for the Rabi crop, wheat, is very short after paddy harvest in October-November, some farmers set their fields on fire to quickly clear off crop ...

As Delhi-NCR grapples with rising pollution, air purifier sales spike

Electronics retailers report a sharp rise in footfalls and bulk buying as consumers rush to brands like Philips, Dyson and Eureka Forbes amid worsening air quality

India's air pollution crisis full-blown assault on brains, bodies: Congress

The Congress on Sunday said India's air pollution crisis is no longer just a respiratory issue but a full-blown assault on our brains and bodies, as it called for radically revising the National Clean Air Programme and urgently updating the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh asserted that air pollution is a public health catastrophe and a national security threat to our society, healthcare system, and future workforce. "India's air pollution crisis is no longer just a respiratory issue. It's now a full-blown assault on our brains and bodies," the former environment minister said on X. In 2023, approximately 2 million deaths in India were linked to air pollution - a 43% jump since 2000, Ramesh pointed out. Nearly 9 in 10 of these deaths were attributed to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, lung cancer, diabetes and now even dementia, he said India records around 186 air-pollution deaths per

Lahore tops world's pollution chart as overall AQI hits hazardous 412

Environmental experts have urged residents to avoid unnecessary outdoor activity, particularly in the morning and evening, and to wear masks when outside

Delhi AQI improves slightly but in 'poor' category; respiratory cases rise

Doctors urge vulnerable individuals should avoid outdoor exposure, wear N95 masks, and continue their prescribed medications

Delhi-NCR air quality slightly improves but remains 'very poor' at 292

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had imposed Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the National Capital Region with immediate effect

Luxe breathes easy: Clean air homes are in demand amid rising air pollution

Premiums rise as AQI-assured homes attract eco-conscious buyers

Stubble burning cases in Punjab cross 500 despite govt efforts: PPCB data

Punjab recorded 28 fresh stubble burning incidents on Thursday, taking the total farm fire count to 512 since September 15, Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) data showed. The state saw a jump of 324 crop residue burning incidents from the 188 cases recorded till October 16, the data further showed. According to the data, the highest number of farm fires were reported in Tarn Taran at 159, followed by Amritsar at 133, Ferozepur 58, Patiala 32 and Gurdaspur 25, as many farmers continue to ignore government appeals to stop crop residue burning. Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is often blamed for the rise in air pollution in Delhi-NCR. As the window for the Rabi crop, wheat, is very short after paddy harvest in October and November, some farmers set their fields on fire to quickly clear off the crop residue. Fines amounting to Rs 13.25 lakh have been imposed as environmental compensation in 246 cases so far, according to PPCB data. Of the total fine, Rs 8.95 lakh has been ..

Delhi's air quality remains 'very poor' days after Diwali celebrations

Delhi-NCR continued to choke as AQI remained high, with Anand Vihar's AQI at 428; GRAP Stage-II measures remain in force amid weak winds and limited pollutant dispersion

Taking stock: Delhi's air stays toxic for a second consecutive day

The region has witnessed a spike in air pollution levels following incessant cracker burning on Diwali night (October 20).

Punjab saw 415 farm fires from Sep 15 to Oct 21, down from 1,510 last year

Punjab recorded 415 incidents of farm fire between September 15 and October 21, down from 1,510 cases reported during the same period last year, according to data compiled by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB). The data showed that the number of farm fires recorded during this period in 2023 was 1,764. The sharp drop comes amid a delayed paddy harvest as rains lashed the state until the first week of October. Damage caused by floods also delayed the crop harvest at some places. Officials say stricter field monitoring and awareness campaigns, telling farmers about the ill-effects of stubble burning, have also had an impact. A statement issued by the Punjab government said the sustained and rigorous efforts by the civil administration and police to prevent stubble burning have yielded significant results, with the state witnessing a nearly-four-fold reduction in farm-fire cases this year, compared to the same period in the previous two years. According to the PPCB data, the t

Hospitals see spike in respiratory cases; air pollution may worsen in NCR

Delhi-NCR hospitals report a sharp spike in breathing-related cases as air quality turns 'severe' after Diwali; doctors expect numbers to rise in coming days

Delhiites head out as air pollution levels spike post Diwali celebrations

The air quality index (AQI) in the city spiked, prompting many to leave the city for a short while, to resorts outside, or even to places with better AQI such as Corbett, Bhimtal, and Dehradun

NDMC launches intensive drive to curb air pollution in Lutyens' Delhi

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has launched an intensive drive to tackle rising air pollution levels, deploying its manpower and machinery round-the-clock to improve the city's air quality. NDMC has rolled out multiple measures focused on dust suppression, smog reduction, greening, and citizen participation, an statement from the Office of the Vice Chairperson said on Tuesday. Four mechanical road sweeping machines are cleaning around 220 km of roads daily, with additional CNG and battery-operated sweepers being procured to expand coverage, Vice Chairman Kuljeet Singh Chahal said. Eight mobile anti-smog guns are operating daily across major roads, while more units are planned for NDMC and private buildings. Mist spray systems have been installed on Lodhi Road and will soon be extended to Shanti Path and Africa Avenue. Night cleaning of footpaths has also begun in Connaught Place, Khan Market, and Sarojini Nagar to reduce dust pollution. NDMC has deployed nine water tankers

Air pollution alert: What to do immediately when AQI turns unhealthy

As air quality plummets across cities, doctors warn of rising respiratory and heart risks. Here's how to protect yourself immediately from pollution-related cough, fatigue, and long-term health damage

Delhi's air turns toxic | 36 of 38 zones in red: What went wrong with 'Green Diwali'? | Delhi aqi

A morning after the lights, Delhi wakes up to suffocating smog and hazardous air. Despite Supreme Court-regulated “green crackers,” the city’s air quality plummets

Delhi breathes 'very poor' air on Diwali morning; Stage II curbs imposed

Delhi-NCR records 'very poor' air quality with AQI above 300 on Diwali; CM Rekha Gupta urges citizens to use only green crackers in the city

GRAP Stage 2 curbs kick in across NCR as Delhi's air turns 'very poor'

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR as the city's air quality slipped into the "very poor" category, with the AQI crossing 300 mark. The move came after the Sub-Committee on GRAP on Saturday reviewed the worsening pollution levels and forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), which warned of further deterioration in the coming days. "The AQI of Delhi has shown an increasing trend since morning and has been recorded as 296 at 4 pm and 302 at 7 pm," the CAQM said, directing authorities to implement all Stage II measures with immediate effect, in addition to Stage I actions already in force since October 14. The Centre's air quality panel also asked all implementing agencies to keep strict vigil, particularly on dust mitigation and to ensure compliance with targeted timelines laid down under the comprehensive policy to curb a

Delhi's air quality worsens on Diwali eve as 24 stations slip into red zone

Delhi's air quality inched close to the "very poor" category on Sunday as pollution levels continued to rise. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 296 at 4 pm, placing it in the "poor" category. An AQI reading between 301 and 400 falls in the "very poor" category. Out of the 38 monitoring stations in the national capital, 12 reported air quality in the "very poor" range. Anand Vihar recorded the highest AQI at 430, followed by Wazirpur (364), Vivek Vihar (351), Dwarka (335), and RK Puram (323). Other areas such as Siri Fort, Dilshad Garden, and Jahangirpuri reported an AQI of 318. Punjabi Bagh stood at 313, Nehru Nagar at 310, Ashok Vihar at 305, and Bawana at 304, CPCB data showed. The city recorded a maximum temperature of 33.3 degrees Celsius, 0.9 degrees above the season's average, while the minimum temperature settled at 20.6 degrees Celsius, 2.2 degrees above normal, according to the India Meteorological ...